Hannakaisa Niela-Vilén1, Anna Axelin2, Sanna Salanterä3, Hanna-Leena Melender4. 1. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: hmniel@utu.fi. 2. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland. 3. Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Finland. 4. VAMK University of Applied Sciences, Vaasa, Finland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The Internet and social media provide various possibilities for online peer support. The aim of this review was to explore Internet-based peer-support interventions and their outcomes for parents. DESIGN: A systematic integrative review. DATA SOURCES: The systematic search was carried out in March 2014 in PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases. REVIEW METHODS: Two reviewers independently screened the titles (n=1793), abstracts and full texts to decide which articles should be chosen. The inclusion criteria were: (1) an Internet-based community as an intervention, or at least as a component of an intervention; (2) the participants in the Internet-based community had to be mothers and/or fathers or pregnant women; (3) the parents had to interact and communicate with each other through the Internet-based community. The data was analysed using content analysis. When analysing peer-support interventions only interventions developed by researchers were included and when analysing the outcomes for the parents, studies that focused on mothers, fathers or both parents were separated. RESULTS: In total, 38 publications met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies focused on Internet-based peer support between mothers (n=16) or both parents (n=15) and seven focused on fathers. In 16 studies, the Internet-based interventions had been developed by researchers and 22 studies used already existing Internet peer-support groups, in which any person using the Internet could participate. For mothers, Internet-based peer support provided emotional support, information and membership in a social community. For fathers, it provided support for the transition to fatherhood, information and humorous communication. Mothers were more active users of Internet-based peer-support groups than fathers. In general, parents were satisfied with Internet-based peer support. The evidence of the effectiveness of Internet-based peer support was inconclusive but no harmful effects were reported in these reviewed studies. CONCLUSIONS: Internet-based peer support provided informational support for parents and was accessible despite geographical distance or time constraints. Internet-based peer support is a unique form of parental support, not replacing but supplementing support offered by professionals. Experimental studies in this area are needed.
OBJECTIVES: The Internet and social media provide various possibilities for online peer support. The aim of this review was to explore Internet-based peer-support interventions and their outcomes for parents. DESIGN: A systematic integrative review. DATA SOURCES: The systematic search was carried out in March 2014 in PubMed, Cinahl, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases. REVIEW METHODS: Two reviewers independently screened the titles (n=1793), abstracts and full texts to decide which articles should be chosen. The inclusion criteria were: (1) an Internet-based community as an intervention, or at least as a component of an intervention; (2) the participants in the Internet-based community had to be mothers and/or fathers or pregnant women; (3) the parents had to interact and communicate with each other through the Internet-based community. The data was analysed using content analysis. When analysing peer-support interventions only interventions developed by researchers were included and when analysing the outcomes for the parents, studies that focused on mothers, fathers or both parents were separated. RESULTS: In total, 38 publications met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies focused on Internet-based peer support between mothers (n=16) or both parents (n=15) and seven focused on fathers. In 16 studies, the Internet-based interventions had been developed by researchers and 22 studies used already existing Internet peer-support groups, in which any person using the Internet could participate. For mothers, Internet-based peer support provided emotional support, information and membership in a social community. For fathers, it provided support for the transition to fatherhood, information and humorous communication. Mothers were more active users of Internet-based peer-support groups than fathers. In general, parents were satisfied with Internet-based peer support. The evidence of the effectiveness of Internet-based peer support was inconclusive but no harmful effects were reported in these reviewed studies. CONCLUSIONS: Internet-based peer support provided informational support for parents and was accessible despite geographical distance or time constraints. Internet-based peer support is a unique form of parental support, not replacing but supplementing support offered by professionals. Experimental studies in this area are needed.
Authors: Jodie Bigalky; Marie Dietrich Leurer; Janet McCabe; April Mackey; Dana Laczko; Virginia Deobald Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2021-10-05
Authors: Cynthia N Lebron; Yaray Agosto; Tamisha Guzman; Danielle Sutton; Mark Stoutenberg; Sarah E Messiah; Sara M St George Journal: Appetite Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 5.016