Come for Information, Stay for Support: Harnessing the Power of Online Health Communities for Social Connectedness during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Data Collection and Survey Design
2.2. Measures
2.2.1. Perception of COVID-19
2.2.2. Utilized and Desired Sources of COVID-19 Information and Support
2.2.3. Quality of Life and Health-Related Behavioral Changes
2.2.4. Demographics
2.2.5. Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Participants
3.2. COVID-19 Concern
3.3. Self-Directed Research and Desire for Additional Support
3.4. Burnout, Isolation, and Mental Health Distress
3.5. One-Word Perceptions
3.6. First-Hand Accounts of Isolation and Longing for Connection
“The biggest struggle for me is the isolation. The last time I was out to eat with friends or shopping in a store was the end of February 2020. It’s a more mental/emotional struggle most days.”
“Boredom due to seclusion. Normally I busy myself with helping others but being secluded in my room with little to do has begun to wear down my normally positive attitude.”
“I don’t have any help at home, and it’s hard for me to manage. I feel incredibly isolated-which causes increased depression. I cannot even participate in communal worship because of immunosuppressant medications that increase my risk for COVID. I would like to work, as much as I can, but as a piano teacher, it is not possible, and that is more isolating and makes one feel more ‘useless.’ Being ill, unemployed, and having no one to have physical contact or interactions with is not normal. It is not conducive to mental health, [which is] hard enough for those with chronic pain and health conditions.”
“Warm greetings to everyone in the asthma world! As I sit here on day 22 of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am reminded of my reasons for wanting to share my experiences as an asthma patient and a lung cancer survivor, to name a couple of my health issues. So I am in isolation and I can’t help but think about how grateful I am to have this forum to turn to. Not just in today’s current environment but always. It is so helpful to hear from so many others who are in the same boat. Asthma often makes me feel isolated and alone. In reality, I am alone, but WE are together in our little corners of the planet doing our best to stay safe and healthy and live our lives. The current climate of the world has intensified that for us.”
4. Discussion
Limitations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Survey Wave | Dates Fielded | Num. of OHCs | Total Completes |
---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | 19–25 March 2020 | 10 | 991 |
Wave 2 | 14–17 April 2020 | 26 | 2214 |
Wave 3 | 12–14 May 2020 | 26 | 2210 |
Wave 4 | 21–23 July 2020 | 26 | 1777 |
Wave 5 | 23 October–2 November 2020 | 26 | 2005 |
Wave 6 | 12–19 April 2021 | 28 | 980 |
Survey Wave | Gender | Mean Age | Employment Status |
---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | 87% Female 12% Male | 58.7 | 35% Employed 34% Retired 21% Disability |
Wave 2 | 84% Female 16% Male | 57.6 | 33% Employed 30% Retired 24% Disability |
Wave 3 | 81% Female 19% Male | 56.3 | 30% Employed 38% Retired 21% Disability |
Wave 4 | 83% Female 17% Male | 59.7 | 31% Employed 36% Retired 22% Disability |
Wave 5 | 82% Female 18% Male | 58.9 | 30% Employed 38% Retired 21% Disability |
Wave 6 | 78% Female 21% Male | 60.4 | 31% Employed 39% Retired 19% Disability |
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Green, B.M.; Hribar, C.A.; Hayes, S.; Bhowmick, A.; Herbert, L.B. Come for Information, Stay for Support: Harnessing the Power of Online Health Communities for Social Connectedness during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12743. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312743
Green BM, Hribar CA, Hayes S, Bhowmick A, Herbert LB. Come for Information, Stay for Support: Harnessing the Power of Online Health Communities for Social Connectedness during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(23):12743. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312743
Chicago/Turabian StyleGreen, Brian M., Casey A. Hribar, Sara Hayes, Amrita Bhowmick, and Leslie Beth Herbert. 2021. "Come for Information, Stay for Support: Harnessing the Power of Online Health Communities for Social Connectedness during the COVID-19 Pandemic" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 23: 12743. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312743