Title: How do young people use disclosure in real-time and non-real-time online groups?

Authors: Fiona E. Fox, Marianne Morris, Nichola Rumsey

Addresses: Research Design Service, School for Health, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, Avon BA2 7AY, UK. ' Department of Psychology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK. ' Centre for Appearance Research, Department of Psychology, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK

Abstract: While self-disclosure is an important feature of adolescent peer friendships there is little evidence to identify how disclosure processes are affected by the online environment. A qualitative analysis of two online groups, established for research purposes, enabled a comparison of disclosure processes in young people with chronic skin conditions. Young people with psoriasis took part in a series of real-time discussions, while counterparts with vitiligo communicated through a non-real-time message board. The groups were observed and content analysis was used to identify the forms of support exchanged. Both groups used disclosure to elicit and provide support although interaction styles varied between the groups. Factors including rapport and anonymity are identified as influential in this mediation of social support. The findings are compared to a model of self-disclosure in online support groups (Tichon and Shapiro, 2003) and implications for online interventions with young people are considered.

Keywords: adolescence; chronic skin conditions; message boards; online chat groups; qualitative research; real-time chat groups; self-disclosure; social support; young people; adolescent friendships; peer friendships; psoriasis; vitiligo; disclosure; web based communities; online communities, virtual communities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2010.035837

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2010 Vol.6 No.4, pp.337 - 348

Published online: 05 Oct 2010 *

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