Testing the Proclaimed Affordances of Online Support Groups in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults Seeking Mental Health Assistance

Abstract

In this study, explanations for why people turn to the Internet for social support are tested using a nationally representative sample of adults who sought mental health support through a traditional treatment outlet, an in-person support group, or an online support group. Results indicate that the more adults report having social stigma concerns, the more likely they are to seek support online instead of help from an in-person support group or traditional treatment. Likewise, as the reported number of logistical barriers to mental health treatment increases, a corresponding increase occurs in the odds of adults seeking online support instead of traditional treatment. These findings as well as estimates of demographic variation in the use of online support are discussed.