An evaluation of an online peer support forum for university students with depressive symptoms

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorHorgan, Aine M.
dc.contributor.authorMcCarthy, Geraldine
dc.contributor.authorSweeney, John F.
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-19T10:44:07Z
dc.date.available2016-08-19T10:44:07Z
dc.date.issued2013-02-13
dc.date.updated2013-05-14T08:07:45Z
dc.description.abstractBackground: Depression is the most common mental health problem among young people, particularly university students, with prevalence rates as high as 48% reported. This population however, is reluctant to seek professional help. Online interventions may be particularly appealing to students, with evidence suggesting that they use the Internet for mental health support. While there are many mental health resources on the Internet few focus specifically on the needs of young people and few have been evaluated. This research aimed to develop and pilot test an online peer support intervention for students experiencing depressive symptoms. Methods: A depression support Web site (www.losetheblues.ie) was designed specifically for 18-24. year old students. The study used a mixed method, involving quantitative descriptive, pre- and post-test and qualitative descriptive designs. Data were collected using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), a background questionnaire and online forum posts. Results: The sample consisted of 117 university students with self-reported depressive symptoms. Results from participants in the pre- and post-test element of the study, showed no statistical significance. The forum posts revealed that the participants' main difficulties were loneliness and perceived lack of socialization skills. The Web site provided a place for sharing, offering and receiving emotional and informational support. Conclusion: Developing health care interventions in an online environment presents unique challenges to the research process, however they have the potential to provide mental health care that is accessible and affordable.en
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationHorgan, A., McCarthy, G. and Sweeney, J. (2013) 'An evaluation of an online peer support forum for university students with depressive symptoms', Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 27, pp. 84-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2012.12.005en
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.apnu.2012.12.005
dc.identifier.endpage89en
dc.identifier.issn0883-9417
dc.identifier.journaltitleArchives of Psychiatric Nursingen
dc.identifier.startpage84en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/3010
dc.identifier.volume27en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherElsevieren
dc.rights© 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved; © 2013. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/en
dc.subjectAdolescenten
dc.subjectDepressionen
dc.subjectFemaleen
dc.subjectInterneten
dc.subjectLonelinessen
dc.subjectMaleen
dc.subjectProgram evaluationen
dc.subjectSelf-help groupsen
dc.subjectStudentsen
dc.subjectUniversitiesen
dc.subjectYoung adulten
dc.subjectPeer groupen
dc.subjectUniversity studentsen
dc.titleAn evaluation of an online peer support forum for university students with depressive symptomsen
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)en
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
APN_online_intervention_corrected_proof.pdf
Size:
336.78 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Accepted Version
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Nursing and Midwifery - Journal Articles