Abstract
BackgroundAs individuals age, chronic health difficulties may disrupt physical and social well-being. Individuals can turn to online communities to interact with similar peers, which may help buffer negative effects resulting from health difficulties.ObjectiveThis study investigated the reasons that older adults join a diabetes online community to better understand the specific resources that are being sought.MethodsWe used semantic network analyses to categorize the reasons participants provided for joining a community during the sign-up process.ResultsThe most frequent reasons for joining were to seek information about their health condition, to help with self-management of health difficulties, for feelings of informational and social support, and for having a community with whom to share. Women were more likely to go online for sharing and companionship as well as for information and social support reasons, whereas men were more likely to go online for general information and self-management reasons.ConclusionsThis study shows the reasons older adults seek to join a diabetes online community: for increased information and support regarding chronic health difficulties. Practitioners may want to consider ways to promote access to online communities among their older patients as a source of health information and a resource to provide a sense of community.
Highlights
Across one’s lifespan, social interactions with same-aged peers—who are more likely to share attitudes, values, and interests—are important [1]
This study shows the reasons older adults seek to join a diabetes online community: for increased information and support regarding chronic health difficulties
Barriers to mobility resulting from health difficulties may limit social contact [2,3]
Summary
Background Across one’s lifespan, social interactions with same-aged peers—who are more likely to share attitudes, values, and interests—are important [1]. Online communities, defined as collectives of voluntary members who share common interests or experiences and who interact primarily over the internet [4], may offer older adults, or people over age 65, an opportunity to engage with peers regardless of physical ability and location [3]. Online communities for older adults are steadily growing [3], as increasing numbers of older adults have broadband access, use mobile phones, and are actively increasing their use of the http://aging.jmir.org/2018/1/e10649/ XSLFO RenderX. The potential for older adults to benefit from the internet for health information seeking [7,8], managing chronic conditions [7,9,10], interacting with similar peers [3], and engaging in online communities is starting to be recognized [11,12]. Individuals can turn to online communities to interact with similar peers, which may help buffer negative effects resulting from health difficulties
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