Impact of online support for youth with asthma and allergies: pilot study.
Youth with asthma and allergies often feel isolated and different from their peers. The objective of this study was to test the impact of online social support for these youth. Three months of support was provided using weekly synchronous chat sessions. Online sessions were facilitated by trained peer mentors (older youth with asthma and/or allergies) and health professionals. Youth could also e-mail one another between chat sessions and post messages on an electronic community bulletin board. Twenty-eight adolescents across Canada participated. Social isolation and loneliness were significantly reduced. Youth reported gaining confidence and a sense of normality.
Faculty of Nursing, Canada Research Chair in Healthy Child Development, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada. nicoleL@unb.ca
Nicole
N
Letourneau
Miriam
M
Stewart
Jeffrey R
JR
Masuda
Sharon
S
Anderson
Lisa
L
Cicutto
Shawna
S
McGhan
Susan
S
Watt
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000523:psychology*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support