Online Social Support for Participants of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Groups

Thousands of people affected by or caring for someone affected by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis participate in online social support groups today. The diseases, which are often discussed in conjunction due to being similar in nature, have no cure and yet affect over 1 million people in the United States alone. There is a need for health communication scholarship to examine the nature of the messages in Crohn's and UC groups, which can lend insight into the unique struggles and psychosocial benefits that members gain from group participation. To develop an in-depth understanding of social support exchanges on these groups, 2000 posts within a 2-year period were randomly selected and content analyzed. Using a taxonomy of social support, several categories and subcategories of social support emerged. Results showed that informational support (41.1%) and emotional support (36.1%) were most frequently exchanged, followed by esteem support (14.3%) and network support (14.2%). Data suggested that several exchanges, such as symptom management and remission, experiences of extraintestinal manifestations, and relational support, may be contextually unique due to the variety of symptoms and treatments unique to Crohn's and UC. Recommendations are provided for researchers to collaborate with health practitioners and educators, including developing interventions and patient-centered practices to better serve patients and caregivers of Crohn's and UC. Further avenues for research in social support are also recommended.