CNN: How effective are online support groups?

People going through rough periods in their lives, such as dealing with health issues, often seek out support online from others in similar situations. But are these online support groups really effective? A study by Temple's Mark Salzer, director of the Temple Collaborative for Community Integration, found mixed results. From the researchers' standpoint, "we didn't necessarily find a positive effect, but we didn't find a negative effect either," he said. However, participants reported that the groups were relevant to them and that they were more satisfied after participation.
April 13, 2011 | CNN