Abstract
A mixed-methods approach was used to explore if present-day online communities for people who stutter (PWS) are valuable in their ability to provide psychosocial support. Forty-two PWS provided both numerical and descriptive responses to questions within an anonymous online questionnaire that asked about self-esteem, feelings about being a person who stutters, and levels of support received before and after participating in an online community for PWS. Paired sample t-tests revealed that participants rated their self-esteem and levels of support after interacting in an online community for PWS significantly higher than before. Thematic analysis uncovered five major themes that consisted of (1) worldwide connection, (2) encouragement, (3) liberation, (4) accessibility, and (5) ongoing support. Findings from the data suggest that online communities for PWS are beneficial as a means of psychosocial support, in that they provided members who stutter with a platform to connect with others in order to gain and give support and encouragement that revolved around the topic of stuttering.
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