Biomaterial Database

Mothers' experiences of peer support via an Internet discussion forum after the death of a child. 2012

Anna Liisa Aho, and Erja Paavilainen, and Marja Kaunonen

School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere University Hospital, Finland Kellokoski Hospital, Kellokoski, Finland. anna.l.aho@uta.fi

The aim of this study was to describe mothers' experiences of peer support via an Internet discussion group for mothers who have a child died. A longitudinal qualitative study design was used. The research data were collected from four (n = 4) bereaved mothers from a private Internet support group titled 'angel baby' during the period 2001-2006. The data included 631 messages. Content analysis was used to examine the data. Peer support on an Internet discussion forum included giving and receiving emotional, cognitive and community support among bereaved mothers. The Internet discussion forum was a viable alternative to peer support after the death of a child. A strong sense of communality and lasting friendships was formed between the bereaved mothers who had similar experiences.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009035	Mothers	Female parents, human or animal.	Mothers' Clubs,Club, Mothers',Clubs, Mothers',Mother,Mother Clubs,Mother's Clubs,Mothers Clubs,Mothers' Club
D010379	Peer Group	Group composed of associates of same species, approximately the same age, and usually of similar rank or social status.	Group, Peer,Groups, Peer,Peer Groups
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D003643	Death	Irreversible cessation of all bodily functions, manifested by absence of spontaneous breathing and total loss of cardiovascular and cerebral functions.	End Of Life,End-Of-Life,Near-Death Experience,Cardiac Death,Determination of Death,Death, Cardiac
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012944	Social Support	Support systems that provide assistance and encouragement to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities in order that they may better cope. Informal social support is usually provided by friends, relatives, or peers, while formal assistance such as COMMUNITY SUPPORT is provided by churches, groups, etc.	Perceived Social Support,Social Care,Online Social Support,Care, Social,Online Social Supports,Perceived Social Supports,Social Support, Online,Social Support, Perceived,Social Supports, Online,Social Supports, Perceived,Support, Online Social,Support, Perceived Social,Support, Social,Supports, Perceived Social
D020407	Internet	A loose confederation of computer communication networks around the world. The networks that make up the Internet are connected through several backbone networks. The Internet grew out of the US Government ARPAnet project and was designed to facilitate information exchange.	World Wide Web,Cyber Space,Cyberspace,Web, World Wide,Wide Web, World