The lived experience of social support for older adults in a computer-mediated environment: A phenomenological research study

Social support has long been acknowledged in the research community to be linked with an increase in physical and psychological well being by increasing self-esteem and reducing stress in older adults. A decrease in social support has been said to occur as social networks of older adults decrease with age. Within increasing availability of the Internet, individuals are gaining social support through computer-mediated means. This transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experience of social support for older adults in a computer-mediated environment. Themes emerged that provided insight into what the experience was like on a daily basis and those underlying structures of consciousness that precipitated the experience. The themes indicated the importance of online social support from family and friends, the significance of information online and the importance of providing online social support to others. Separate from these themes, were themes that influenced those mentioned above which included negative influences, relationship of time and the influence of the written word on social support. Results indicated that participants understood that they were responsible for obtaining social support and did so in a conscious manner defining boundaries to increase the positive experiences of social support. Self-awareness, self-esteem, relief from stress, increased closeness with friends and family, joy, and contentment were experienced as social support was obtained over the Internet. Unanticipated findings of the study contributed to the theory of online social support by adding information processing and differentiating between informational and emotional social support. The study raised important social implications of online social support which included sharing social support between family and friends, realizing the value of older adults and the vulnerability of older adults. Recommendations for professionals included encouraging older adults to set boundaries around person to person communication and identify parameters of security and privacy before engaging in chat rooms and shopping online.