Mutual help goes on-line

Abstract

This study investigated an on-line mutual-help group for persons suffering from depression. Postings from two randomly chosen weeks were content coded (N = 1,863 postings; 533 participants; 273 males, 173 females) based on concepts salient to face-to-face mutual-help groups. Participants in the on-line group communicated in ways characteristic of face-to-face groups (e.g., high levels of support, acceptance, and positive feelings); however, they engaged in more emotional support and self-disclosure. Unexpectedly, the group was more highly used by men than by women. In addition, the content of men's posts were virtually identical to those of women's. On-line mutual help may provide a unique form of support for persons who are not as likely to use traditional forms of helping. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.