Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group

José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group

José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli

Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 4, Issue 2)

Received: 11 September 2018 Accepted: 20 September 2018 Published: 17 October 2018

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Abstract

Qualitative research on HIV/AIDS and the use of online support groups has suggested that participants benefit from them in terms of empowerment and emotional support. However there is almost no information available on the specific topic of mental health and concerns that people living with HIV/AIDS have around the topic, and what the role is of forums when participants look for orientation and relief from psychological distress. The aim of this study was to explore trends in discussion about mental health in online support groups and to try to identify usual concerns and strategies that members share in the forums when they address the matter of psychological distress, including mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Thematic analysis of 701 messages posted by 220 members in a forum about mental health and HIV/AIDS revealed three themes: ‘Therapy almighty?’, ‘Swallow the pill or not’, and ‘Being lonely is not helping’. The findings suggest that participants tend to idealise therapy, medicine and companionship, which are the three main alternatives of solution to problems discussed in the online forum. This idealisation might be due to the uncertainties and burdens inherent to HIV/AIDS, and the need for hope in definitive solutions to the multiple problems this population can face. While other studies have considered online support groups as a source of relief themselves, our findings suggests that participants use them as a mean to mainly look for answers, obtaining only references to other resources that could actually have those desired answers.

Published in	International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
Page(s)	26-34
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Idealisation, Therapy, Medicine, Companionship

References

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José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli. (2018). Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 4(2), 26-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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ACS Style

José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli. Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2018, 4(2), 26-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli. Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2018;4(2):26-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11,
  author = {José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli},
  title = {Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {26-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20180402.11},
  abstract = {Qualitative research on HIV/AIDS and the use of online support groups has suggested that participants benefit from them in terms of empowerment and emotional support. However there is almost no information available on the specific topic of mental health and concerns that people living with HIV/AIDS have around the topic, and what the role is of forums when participants look for orientation and relief from psychological distress. The aim of this study was to explore trends in discussion about mental health in online support groups and to try to identify usual concerns and strategies that members share in the forums when they address the matter of psychological distress, including mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Thematic analysis of 701 messages posted by 220 members in a forum about mental health and HIV/AIDS revealed three themes: ‘Therapy almighty?’, ‘Swallow the pill or not’, and ‘Being lonely is not helping’. The findings suggest that participants tend to idealise therapy, medicine and companionship, which are the three main alternatives of solution to problems discussed in the online forum. This idealisation might be due to the uncertainties and burdens inherent to HIV/AIDS, and the need for hope in definitive solutions to the multiple problems this population can face. While other studies have considered online support groups as a source of relief themselves, our findings suggests that participants use them as a mean to mainly look for answers, obtaining only references to other resources that could actually have those desired answers.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group
AU  - José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli
Y1  - 2018/10/17
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP  - 26
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5765
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
AB  - Qualitative research on HIV/AIDS and the use of online support groups has suggested that participants benefit from them in terms of empowerment and emotional support. However there is almost no information available on the specific topic of mental health and concerns that people living with HIV/AIDS have around the topic, and what the role is of forums when participants look for orientation and relief from psychological distress. The aim of this study was to explore trends in discussion about mental health in online support groups and to try to identify usual concerns and strategies that members share in the forums when they address the matter of psychological distress, including mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Thematic analysis of 701 messages posted by 220 members in a forum about mental health and HIV/AIDS revealed three themes: ‘Therapy almighty?’, ‘Swallow the pill or not’, and ‘Being lonely is not helping’. The findings suggest that participants tend to idealise therapy, medicine and companionship, which are the three main alternatives of solution to problems discussed in the online forum. This idealisation might be due to the uncertainties and burdens inherent to HIV/AIDS, and the need for hope in definitive solutions to the multiple problems this population can face. While other studies have considered online support groups as a source of relief themselves, our findings suggests that participants use them as a mean to mainly look for answers, obtaining only references to other resources that could actually have those desired answers.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

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José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli

School of Psychology, Catholic Pontifical University of Ecuador, Ambato, Ecuador

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José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli. (2018). Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 4(2), 26-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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ACS Style

José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli. Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2018, 4(2), 26-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli. Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2018;4(2):26-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11,
  author = {José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli},
  title = {Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {4},
  number = {2},
  pages = {26-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20180402.11},
  abstract = {Qualitative research on HIV/AIDS and the use of online support groups has suggested that participants benefit from them in terms of empowerment and emotional support. However there is almost no information available on the specific topic of mental health and concerns that people living with HIV/AIDS have around the topic, and what the role is of forums when participants look for orientation and relief from psychological distress. The aim of this study was to explore trends in discussion about mental health in online support groups and to try to identify usual concerns and strategies that members share in the forums when they address the matter of psychological distress, including mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Thematic analysis of 701 messages posted by 220 members in a forum about mental health and HIV/AIDS revealed three themes: ‘Therapy almighty?’, ‘Swallow the pill or not’, and ‘Being lonely is not helping’. The findings suggest that participants tend to idealise therapy, medicine and companionship, which are the three main alternatives of solution to problems discussed in the online forum. This idealisation might be due to the uncertainties and burdens inherent to HIV/AIDS, and the need for hope in definitive solutions to the multiple problems this population can face. While other studies have considered online support groups as a source of relief themselves, our findings suggests that participants use them as a mean to mainly look for answers, obtaining only references to other resources that could actually have those desired answers.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Mental Health and HIV/AIDS: A Thematic Analysis of Communication and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an Online Support Group
AU  - José Daniel Gil-Fortoul Bucheli
Y1  - 2018/10/17
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP  - 26
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5765
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20180402.11
AB  - Qualitative research on HIV/AIDS and the use of online support groups has suggested that participants benefit from them in terms of empowerment and emotional support. However there is almost no information available on the specific topic of mental health and concerns that people living with HIV/AIDS have around the topic, and what the role is of forums when participants look for orientation and relief from psychological distress. The aim of this study was to explore trends in discussion about mental health in online support groups and to try to identify usual concerns and strategies that members share in the forums when they address the matter of psychological distress, including mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Thematic analysis of 701 messages posted by 220 members in a forum about mental health and HIV/AIDS revealed three themes: ‘Therapy almighty?’, ‘Swallow the pill or not’, and ‘Being lonely is not helping’. The findings suggest that participants tend to idealise therapy, medicine and companionship, which are the three main alternatives of solution to problems discussed in the online forum. This idealisation might be due to the uncertainties and burdens inherent to HIV/AIDS, and the need for hope in definitive solutions to the multiple problems this population can face. While other studies have considered online support groups as a source of relief themselves, our findings suggests that participants use them as a mean to mainly look for answers, obtaining only references to other resources that could actually have those desired answers.
VL  - 4
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download