This literature review of research on health-related computer-mediated support groups links
features of these groups to existing theory from the areas of social support and computer …

Circumplex models have organized interpersonal behavior along 2 orthogonal dimensions-
communion (which emphasizes connection between people) and agency (which …

For almost four decades, Theories of Human Communication has offered readers an
engaging and informative guide to the rich array of theories that influence our understanding …

When stresses and hassles challenge our abilities to cope, we frequently turn to family,
friends, and partners for help. Yet social support from close relational partners does not …

Numerous factors affect the outcomes of supportive interactions, including aspects of the
supportive message, the helper, the interaction context, and the recipient. This article …

Research on social support during the past two decades has been marked by a growth in
scholarship examining supportive communication in computer-mediated contexts among …

Much of the existing research on social support overlooks the communicative processes that
link supportive acts to beneficial effects. The present study represents an alternative …

Distressed emotional states-anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, shame, and hurt-are a ubiquitous
feature of the human experience. Frequently, we cope with these distressed states by …

People with chronic and acute illnesses experience uncertainty about their prognoses,
potential treatments, social relationships, and identity concerns. In a focus group study of …

This review covers four major topics. First, the authors discuss previous studies on social
support that document the content of supportive communications. Next, the discussion turns …