MUTUAL HELP GOES ONLINE

This study investigated an on-line mutual-help group for persons suffe ring from depression. Postings from two randomly chosen weeks were con tent coded (N = 1,863 postings; 533 participants; 273 males, 173 femal es) based on concepts salient to face-to-face mutual-help groups. Part icipants in the on-line group communicated in ways characteristic of f ace-to-face groups (e.g., high levels of support, acceptance, and posi tive feelings); however, they engaged in more emotional support and se lf-disclosure. Unexepectedly, the group war more highly used by men th an by women. In addition, the content of men's posts were virtually id entical to those of women's. On-line mutual help may provide a unique form of support for persons who are not as likely to use traditional f orms of helping. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.