Isidro Maya Jariego: Redes Sociales - LRPC (Laboratorio de Redes Personales. y Comunidades)

Psycho-social aspects in an on-line self-help group of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers

Resumen:
El objetivo de este estudio fue describir un grupo de autoayuda on-line, y con ello explorar las posibles diferencias existentes con los grupos cara a cara. Examinamos el contenido de los mensajes, las características de los participantes y los procesos del grupo. Con el análisis de caso en profundidad de un newsgroup sobre Alzheimer tratamos de identificar algunas de las variables determinantes del desempeño del grupo.

Palabras clave:
Alzheimer, Grupos de autoyuda, Comunidades on-line, Apoyo social, Comunicación mediada por ordenador.

Abstract:
Communication via computer is becoming increasingly important in Europe, and it is transforming economic and social life. Internet discussion groups (usually called newsgroups) are creating a relational world with important potential effects on social involvement and psychological well-being. Empirical evidence about the impact of the Internet on social support and quality of life is scarce. The current debate is whether the Internet will promote community or not: we don’t know whether personal ties on-line have the same meaning and effects as those through face to face interactions. This study investigated an on-line mutual-help group for persons suffering from Alzheimer, and their caregivers. Postings were content coded based on concepts salient to face to face mutual-help groups. It seems that this group provides a generally positive environment, and that it usually conveys comments that offer emotional support and information. We discussed the differences between this kind of self-help and traditional forms of helping.

Keywords:
Alzheimer, Self-help group, On-line community, Social support, Computer-mediated communication.

Referencia completa:
Maya Jariego, I. (2001). Psycho-social aspects in an on-line self-help group of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. En F. Casas y Saurina, C. (Eds.¬): Proceedings of the Third Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Studies, 923-936. Universitat de Girona. Institut de Recerca sobre Qualitat de Vida.