Expanded Behavioral Model for Online Support Services

The rapid expansion of online technologies and health resources has created opportunities to develop broadly available interventions to address the needs of the modern patient. This study proposes a theoretical structure based on Andersen\u27s Individual Determinants of Health Service Utilization Model to describe who is using online support and how it is being used. Also unique to this analysis was the use of objective behavioral data to describe and predict website utilization, and linguistic analysis to evaluate the content of what is shared in online groups. Eighty-four men and women completed baseline evaluations and were randomized into either online support or a waiting-list control condition. The overall theoretical structure did not produce a significant model; however the individual variables education, past online experience, and time spent online were predictive of participation. The somewhat unexpected finding that those with no prior online group experience and those who were high school educated were more likely to participate is discussed. If replicated, these findings may lend support to the idea that online interventions could provide needed support to individuals who do not typically participate in face-to-face interventions, and that the barriers to online group participation are not the same as the barriers for face-to-face group participation

Analysis of an Online Support Group for Women with Breast Cancer

With over 200,000 new diagnoses in 2004, breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women in the United States. Both the stress of treatment and the threat of a potentially lethal illness present significant challenges to an individual\u27s emotional well-being and coping skills, yet paradoxically many women report benefits from dealing with this adversity. The aims of this investigation were to describe the characteristics of benefit finding as expressed by breast cancer survivors participating in an online breast cancer support group, and to assess the relationship between symptom distress, emotional well-being and benefit finding using baseline assessment measures. Qualitative content analysis and computerized text analysis were used to characterize the emotional, cognitive, and structural components present in online therapy transcripts. Correlational analysis was also used to identify both convergent and divergent characteristics of expressed benefit finding the context of an online support group and self-reported benefit finding using a structured assessment measure. With respect to the relationship between symptom distress, emotional well-being and benefit finding, self-reported benefit finding was found to have a mediating relationship between symptom distress and emotional quality of life, however expressed benefit finding did not share this relationship. This study suggests a potential difference between the benefits participants may endorse on a structured measure versus the opportunity to discuss benefits in an unstructured, somewhat social environment

Towards a mobile learning strategy to support Higher Education

Mobile devices, in particular the mobile phone, are ubiquitous amongst the western world population. Worldwide, Universities are experimenting with the potential mobile devices offer for broadening teaching and learning opportunities and reaching more diverse, and technology aware, learners. However, where does this leave the less technology rich and what can be done to develop an equitable strategy to promote and support the advantage mobile technology might provide? This report discusses a number of case studies from UK and overseas HE institutions and gauges staff and student attitudes, at a Midland university, and their willingness to engage with mobile technology and content in an educational sense. The report concludes with recommendations to move forward which may be applicable to inform institutional policy and practice at other universities

The Relationship Between Extroversion, Social Media, In-person Interaction, and Well-being Late in the COVID-19 Pandemic

A Research Methods Project supervised by Dr. Hilary Stebbins (Spring 2021)