A comparison of women with breast cancer who do and do not seek support from the Internet

Abstract

The Internet potentially allows people with health concerns to obtain not only expert information about illnesses and diseases but also peer support. A postal survey of women with breast cancer (N = 78) investigated characteristics associated with their use of the Internet for information and support. Current users of the Internet were younger and reported less adequate family support and poorer mental health compared with those who were not using the net and not interested in using it. Family support differences in net use groups remained significant after controlling for age. The connection between net use and lower family support needs more exploration, and the findings have important implications for web-based health educators.