Sociala medier - ett stöd för unga vuxna med cancer

Sammanfattning: The advancements of Internet have contributed to the expansion of social networks and new communities online where people are given an opportunity to get help and support. An important reason why people join these groups and organizations is to share their experiences, meet people in a similar situation and get support. Social media is nowadays an important part of our society. In this study, we will focus on investigating the interaction in closed communities online and blogs. The study aims to investigate whether social media and social networks online can be a support for young adults with cancer in the same way as physical meeting places. Focus has been on how users utilize social media and how they perceive the interaction. We intend to answer the question: How can social media and online networks provide support for young adults with cancer? The results are based on email interviews with eight young adults who all are going through or have recently gone through cancer. The email interview respondents are all blogging and members of Ung Cancer. We have also interviewed a board member of the organisation Ung Cancer. From the results we can deduce that social media contributes a support and an increased interaction for all respondents. They feel that the communication online and the blog is a part of their recovery process. The main purposes why the respondents are joining the online communities are that they want to meet people in the same situation as themselves and both give and receive advice from others. Blogging is a way for them to express their emotions through writing and putting thoughts into words. Components that are important in physical social support are also found in the study results. The results indicate social support online and social media have similar effects on the recovery process of a young adult with cancer as physical support. According to the study, young adults get help and support by finding others in a similar situation.