Exploring the value of a Facebook support group for parents of children with autism

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The worldwide increase in the diagnosis of autism, the immense pressure parents experience in raising a child with autism, as well as the accessibility of internet-based support, provided a unique opportunity to research parents' experiences in such an online community. Knowledge about their experiences, the value and meaning of an online support group in their daily lives, as well as which parents access online support, could shed light on how online communities could possibly be better utilised to provide instant and low-cost information and support to parents who are otherwise excluded from face-to-face support groups due to various constraints. Additionally, research about online support groups for autism in South Africa seems to be non-existent. This research could contribute significantly to the gap in knowledge about South African parents' experiences.The aim of the study was to engage with South African parents participating in a Facebook support group in finding out what value (positive or negative) it adds to their lives and determining the meaning they ascribe to their participation in this group. This was a qualitative study based on a social constructionist theoretical framework as it is concerned with how every person's reality is shaped through social interaction with others, as well as through the historical and cultural influences in that person's life. Participants for this study were purposively selected and data was collected through observations of their exchanges within the Facebook support group, as well as through an electronic interview questionnaire. These interactions and correspondence were analysed using thematic analysis.The research findings indicated the multifaceted role that the Facebook support group plays in the lives of each parent who participated. The amount of support they derived from the group and the value of the group depended on each parent's unique needs and experiences, as well as their unique interpretations of the interactions within the group. Their interactions within the group showed, however, that the group provided a platform where they were able to construct their own identities as autism parents as the experts of their children's lives, as well as advocates in the realm of autism. Their experiences were in line with international literature on online support groups.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University