291399
Mental health on web 2.0: A comprehensive assessment of youtube as a community marketplace for mental health information and social support
Andrea Tanner, PhD,
School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Sei-Hill Kim, PhD,
School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Brooke Mckeever, PhD,
School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Daniela B Friedman, PhD,
Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Purpose: To assess the mental health (MH) community's likelihood to use YouTube (YT) for information and support--including their reasoning for using/not using YT for MH communication--by age, education and issue involvement. Background: Mental illnesses are a common cause of disability. Research shows people seek support and information on health issues, including MH, on Web 2.0 platforms like YT. New communication patterns on Web 2.0, and improvements in prevention/treatment of mental illnesses, present new avenues for MH communication. Methods: An online Theory of Reasoned Action survey measured likelihood to use YT for MH information and support. Through online invitations via MH websites and Facebook, National Alliance on Mental Illness members/affiliates participated (n=531). Descriptive statistics and correlations were used for data analysis. Results: Respondents said they will use YT to get MH information (31%), provide support (29%), obtain support (24%) and to provide information (18%). Primary concerns were privacy (64%), stigma (43%), and YT's appropriateness for MH communication (43%). Significant correlations were found between likelihood variables and age, education and issue involvement. For example, likelihood to use YT to receive information is significantly correlated with age. Further, using YT to provide information is significantly correlated with education; receiving support on YT is significantly correlated with issue involvement. Conclusions: The MH community often uses YT to provide/obtain information and to provide/obtain support. Findings provide insight on tailoring MH messages online, improving the use of Web 2.0 for interpersonal MH communication, and developing strategies to communicate with the public about MH.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Learning Objectives:
Describe how members of the mental health community perceive the feasibility of using YouTube for mental health information-seeking and/or social support. Identify concerns about using YouTube for mental health communication. Identify the impact of age, education and issue involvement on likelihood to use YT for this purpose.
Keyword(s): Health Communications, Mental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a 4th-year doctoral student (ABD) with research interest in new media, health communication and mental health. This abstract describes research conducted for my dissertation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
