Social and Psychological Determinants of Levels of Engagement With an Online Breast Cancer Support Group: Posters, Lurkers, and Nonusers

Abstract

Despite the benefits and growing availability of online cancer support groups, many breast cancer patients still do not actively participate in them. To better understand cancer patients' online information- and support-seeking behaviors, this study explores how various social and psychological characteristics predict different levels of engagement with an online breast cancer support group: posters, lurkers, and nonusers. The study sample included 231 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients. Data included baseline survey scores of demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial factors and automatically collected discussion group use data over the 4-month intervention. Patterns of engagement with the cancer support group differed according to the patients' characteristics, suggesting that (a) cancer patients have very different orientations to and engagement with an online support group, and (b) deficits in social and psychological resources may not be barriers to participation in a cancer support group, but rather motivators to interact with other patients. The authors discuss the theoretical and practical implications of their findings.

Acknowledgments

The Digital Divide Pilot Project study was funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute and the John and Mary Markle Foundation (Request for Proposal No. NO2-CO-01040-75). The authors thank Haile Berhe, Helene McDowell, and Gina Landucci for their central role in conducting the operational aspects of this study, and also thank the women who agreed to participate in this study.

Notes

Note. Different superscripts mean there are significant differences in corresponding variables between users and nonusers. Subscripts are based on analysis among posters, lurkers, and nonusers. Cells with different subscripts differ at p<.05 at the minimum.

Note. Entries refer to means and standard deviations are in parentheses. Different superscripts mean there are significant differences in corresponding variables between users and nonusers. Subscripts are based on an analysis of covariance among posters, lurkers, and nonusers. Cells with different superscripts/subscripts differ at p < .05 at the minimum by post hoc tests. All analyses adjusted for statistically significant covariates from Table 1.