A qualitative study investigating users’ perspective of bariatric surgery online health communities in facilitating social support

Journal article

Wright, Charlene, Dawson, Danielle, Parkinson, Joy and Hamilton, Kyra. (2024). A qualitative study investigating users’ perspective of bariatric surgery online health communities in facilitating social support. Australian Journal of Psychology. 76(1), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2023.2292022
AuthorsWright, Charlene, Dawson, Danielle, Parkinson, Joy and Hamilton, Kyra
Abstract

Objective: To fulfil a need for greater access to social support postoperatively, adults who have undergone bariatric surgery have turned to Online Health Communities (OHCs). Prior research has signposted the potential “functional” dimensions of social support found via OHCs. However, the “structural” dimensions experienced on OHC have yet to be explored. This study aimed to explore users’ experience of the “functional” and “structural” dimensions of social support facilitated within bariatric surgery OHCs.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 adults who were waitlisted or had undergone bariatric surgery. Data were analysed with both deductive and inductive methodologies utilised. Deductive analysis was mapped to social support theories thus themes reflect “informational”, “emotional”, “belonging”, and “tangible” social support.

Results: There were five subthemes generated under the theme of “informational” social support, two under “emotional” and “tangible” social support, and one under “belonging” social support. Participants believed that the “informal” structural support in their life was insufficient and a contributing factor to turning to OHCs. For some participants, “formal” structural social support was facilitated via OHCs; however, most were seeking different types of support than what they can receive from their medical support team. The inductive analysis generated two themes including “access to reliable social support 24/7” and “satisfied with the support available on OHCs”, highlighting key advantages and value of OHCs.

Conclusions: There seems to be value for OHCs in bariatric surgery for social support. However, fundamentally the shared experiences and “belonging” social support seem to be a linchpin for the success of OHCs.

Keywordsbariatric surgery; online health communities; online support groups; qualitative research; social media; social support
Year01 Jan 2024
JournalAustralian Journal of Psychology
Journal citation76 (1), pp. 1-10
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN0004-9530
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2023.2292022
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00049530.2023.2292022
Open accessOpen access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-10
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online17 Dec 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted03 Nov 2023
Deposited25 Jun 2024
Additional information

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.

Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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