Digital Connections and Social Bonding Among Mental Health Survivors in Online Communities
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Abstract
Digital platforms have reshaped interpersonal relationships, especially in mental health support contexts. While online peer communities are recognized as emotionally supportive, little is known about how individuals with mental health histories experience social connectedness within them. This study explores how they construct meaning around participation in online support communities. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, we examined lived experiences of digital connectedness among ten participants with mental health challenges. Data from in-depth interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), revealing four core themes: empathy through anonymity, safe digital spaces, emotional reciprocity, and identity reconstruction through shared experience. Findings suggest that digital interactions grounded in mutual understanding can foster transformative relational experiences. This study highlights the affective dimensions of online support and underscores the value of phenomenological inquiry in digital mental health research.
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