Citation

Feigelman W, Gorman BS, Beal KC, Jordan JR. Omega (Westport) 2008; 57(3): 217-243.

Affiliation

Department of Sociology, Nassau Community College, Garden City, New York 11530-6793, USA. feigelw@ncc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Sage Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18837172

Abstract

Taken among parents who sustained the loss of a child to suicide this study explores the participation of parents in Internet support groups, comparing their demographic and loss-related characteristics (N = 104) to other parent survivors participating in face-to-face support groups (N = 297). Contrary to expectations that Internet affiliates would be concentrated in under-served rural areas, we found similar levels of urban, suburban, small city and rural residents in both Internet and face-to-face subsamples. Bivariate and multivariate analyses suggested several important factors contributing to interest in Internet grief support including: 24/7 availability and opportunities to invest more time into this type of support group experience. Compared to their face-to-face group counterparts, Internet affiliates experienced greater suicide stigmatization from their families and other associates. Unable to find ready comfort and support from their personal communities, Internet users-and especially highly depressed survivors-sought and obtained valuable help from the Internet support resource.

Language: en