title: The use of pro-ana blogs for online social support.
abstract: The aim of this research was to document the content on pro-ana blogs and to uncover how the unique socio-technical features of blogs (interactivity, self-disclosure, masspersonal communication) facilitate social support among members. A final sample of 48 pro-ana blogs provided 624 individual units for coding. Results indicate that prevalent forms of social support were emotional support, esteem support, and informational support. A new category, reciprocal self-disclosure, was also revealed to be quite frequent. Blogs are spaces where social support is sought and communicated among members of the pro-ana network. Interpretation of blog communication and implications for treatment and research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication, Wayne State University , Detroit , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie Tom
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heinemann-Lafave
authors.forename: Jehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kolodziej-Smith
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Warshay
mesh_terms: D057218:Blogging; D003142:Communication; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support