Understanding the role of social media in online health: A global perspective on online social support

Around the globe, people are increasingly using social media for the provision of online social support. Online social support may be especially relevant for parents who have children diagnosed with rare chronic diseases such as MECP2 Duplication Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, or Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. Despite increasing evidence that online social support enhances a person's psychological well-being, there is little research that seeks to understand how and why various forms of social media facilitate online social support for caregivers. Informed by the literature on psychosocial and media theories, this study develops a theoretical framework that describes the relationship between social media use and online social support. We conclude with implications for health information systems design and research.