Perceived Benefits of Online Support Groups for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract

Women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), a life-threatening illness, stand to benefit a great deal from online support groups, but none have been studied specifically within this population. The present mixed-method study was carried out to determine which therapeutic factors occurred in online MBC support groups, and to see how such factors might have acted to benefit participants. Participants were 20 women with MBC who participated in online peer support groups. Most reported benefiting in some way from their groups. Six therapeutic factors theorized to be helpful in online support groups and cancer support groups were present in the groups studied: group cohesiveness, information exchange, universality, instillation of hope, catharsis, and altruism. However, although participants reported being able to discuss many other concerns freely, they had difficulty discussing death and dying, which are critical issues for this category of women with BC.

KEYWORDS:

• metastatic breast cancer
• self-help
• peer support
• online support groups
• computer-mediated support
• therapeutic factors
• disclosure

Notes

This research was supported by grant no. RO3 HS10565 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. I am grateful to Professor Martha K. McClintock of the University of Chicago and Professor Alicia Matthews of the University of Illinois at Chicago for their assistance with this project. I would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments.

^aInterviewees who completed the group experiences questionnaire.