Building Caregivers' Social Support on Social Network Sites Through Online Support Groups.

Abstract

Online support groups (OSGs) provide caregivers of children with mental disorders, information, and advice, as well as the opportunity to exchange social support. This research explores the effects of social support on caregivers when they participate in OSGs. The research survey was conducted on OSGs for parents of children with mental disorders, including developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. This study collected 204 questionnaires from caregivers for analysis. The results found that informational support and tangible support positively affect members' self-efficacy (SEF), while offering esteem support, emotional support, and companionship support, influencing positive affect (PA). Both SEF and PA improve with members' knowledge-sharing intentions and subjective well-being. In addition, PA impacts the release of stress and recovery from self-stigma. This study provides insights into members' behavior toward support groups. The findings also provide preliminary guidelines for health professionals in adopting strategies to support caregivers.