Effect of Blogging on Well-Being: Increased Social Support and Satisfaction
In comparison to non bloggers the bloggers’ levels of social integration and the tendency to count on others for assistance (reliable alliance) increased over time in as short as a period of two months. Compared to non bloggers, bloggers were more satisfied with number of face-to-face and online friends and with closeness of face-to-face friendships. These changes were not present for non bloggers. Both groups were less psychologically distressed after using MySpace for 2 months than when they first joined, but not significantly so.
Higher levels of social integration suggest that bloggers feel greater belonging to a group of likeminded people with interests and ways of thinking similar to their own.
You can express your stress factors and emotions on blogs, get it of your chest. Blogging can provide you with social support, friendship and positive interactions. Blogs can bring together likeminded and supportive communities and thus provide opportunities to relieve feelings of isolation. Blogs may allow authors to communicate subject matter difficult to express in regular social interaction by reducing social constraints that hinder discussion of distressing events in offline life.
Does Dr Shock have social support, friendship and positive interactions with his blog? He certainly does. Aqua and Herb were the first to express positive critique giving him the change to improve his writing. Jan at Medblog.nl and Laika were an example to him and of great help. To name only a few.
The conclusions of this research as written at the first lines of this post were recently published. It has some limitations that can be derived from the design.
New MySpace users (N=58) were surveyed on joining the site and again in 2 months to examine psychosocial differences between bloggers and nonbloggers over time.
The question remains if these results can be extrapolated to other blog platforms, follow-up was short. If the follow up increases advantages of blogging may become more prominent. A strong point for this research is the use of a control group (non bloggers on MySpace).
James R. Baker, Susan M. Moore (2008). Blogging as a Social Tool: A Psychosocial Examination of the Effects of Blogging CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2147483647-3 DOI: 10.1089/cpb.2008.0053
hannah
November 14, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
Blogging certainly gives me a chance to express myself in a way I haven’t been able to before. Through blogging I’ve had the opportunity to seek support from like-minded people. The time spent blogging is a form of therapy to me which complements the treatment I receive for my BPD. I feel part of an online community which I can turn to when I need extra support, a giggle, a grumble etc.
I also feel priveleged that I can give support and feedback to others. Blogging has become a significant part of my life.
Annie
November 14, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
In my experience, blogging about issues from a non-traditional point of view has resulted in demonization, ridicule and condemnation.
I blog now, for me alone, knowing that the predictable response, if any, is much more likly to be hostile and ostracizing.
I have not found community, acceptance, tolerance, networking or any real benefit.
But I also do not blog about home, family, friends and social activities – of which I have none, and so don’t have anything to contribute or to use as a frame of reference.
So I think the study as some limitations in that it may need to delve more deeply into demographics and look at the self-reported purpose of blogging.
Dr Shock
November 14, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
It is indeed important to do this kind of research in other blog platforms. People mostly join myspace to communicate with others. This study is done in a selected sample. Can’t wait.
Regards Dr Shock
aqua
November 14, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
I have to agree with Hannah. Blogging is definately an extension of my therapy. I would go even further and say for me it is therapy, much like my therapy with my pdoc. In my blog I feel I can say anything I want and I find most fellow bloggers to be incredibly supportive of the difficulties I face trying to become well. Honestly, the whole time I have blogged I can think of only three unsupportive comments and they all came from the same person. Writing in my blog satisfies my desire to write and reinforces the fact that (despite how often I feel isolated)in reality I am not the only person struggling with mental illness.
I just want to say too…Your blog is great. I find so much of the information you post both interesting and helpful. You are always so compassionate. It is great to see that there are other psychiatrists out there who care as much as you. I am glad you blog.
…aqua
Dr Shock
November 14, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
@hannah and aqua
That makes your blogs so important. Thanks Dr Shock
Garth
November 14, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
I think many forms of journaling can be lonely, despite the fact that they may serve to vent emotions or to be a creative outlet.
I think is more therapeutic to have a type of journal which has feedback — where problems or symptoms don’t just stand alone, they are responded to with encouragement, support, or advice.
CBT is like this (but it’s hard to keep up the discipline of it every day). Good therapy can be like this (but this is often only once or twice per week).
A blog can be like this, with the advantage of daily feedback. Responses can be reassuring or motivating, also there can be the beginnings of social connection and friendship.
I guess my only caution would be about addictiveness–sometimes there can be too much of any good thing, such that other aspects of life start to be neglected. So I would worry about the blogger who is up all night on the computer, etc.
Neuroskeptic
November 14, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
It makes sense. In wonder if any professionals are recommending their patients to try blogging? I suspect this won’t happen until the next generation of therapists arrives on the scene, though. Most psychiatrists and therapists I know barely know what a blog is…
dragonfly
November 15, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
That is interesting…
Particularly given that recent article in the Computers and Human Behaviour Journal stating that bloggers are more likely to be neurotic etc.
Ref: Who blogs? Personality predictors of blogging. Rosanna E. Guadagno, Bradley M. Okdiea and Cassie A. Enoa. Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 24, Issue 5, September 2008, Pages 1993-2004.
Dr Shock
November 15, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
@dragonfly
Female students only, those who scored highly on neuroticism (i.e. anxious, insecure characters) were more likely to blog. Among both men and women, those who were more open to experience were also more likely to blog – perhaps unsurprisingly given that blogging is a relatively new phenomenon and given that this personality dimension is associated with creativity.
Have a look at:
http://tinyurl.com/5f4xtm
Regards Dr Shock
Sanford
November 16, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
As an agoraphobic, I am only recently finding the benefits of blogging. I can push my comfort zone without some of the risks of panic. As long as I don’t expect too much, and express my thoughts and interests freely, I seem to be okay in this milieu.
James Baker
December 29, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Hello,
Thanks for your coverage of my research!
As Annie pointed out, a lot of the experience can depend on both audience and motivation. I’m currently conducting research on these aspects in a new study. It’s open to participation at http://www.onlinesocialresearch.com and I would love if you could share this with your readers. It would be great to include people of differing experiences in the sample population.
Warm Regards,
James
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