Online social networks and using them to improve social skills in young people with disabilities

Authors

  • Raquel Suriá Martínez Departamento de Comunicación y Psicología Social. Universidad de Alicante Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24310/espsiescpsi.v5i3.13302

Keywords:

Young people, Disability, Social networking online, Social skills

Abstract

In recent years, online social networks have introduced profound changes in our environment and new ways of relating to others. The use of social networks is increasingly common, especially among young people, and could further empower young people with limited mobility as a result of a disability. This paper examines the opinions of young people with motor disabilities about the friendships they maintain over online networks and their perceptions regarding how these networks improve their social skills. This is discussed in reference to gender, age and occupation. 68 young people with physical disabilities answered an online questionnaire created for this purpose. The results were analyzed using quantitative methodology. Although we found significant differences based on gender, age and occupation, most of the young people perceived themselves as being highly motivated to use these spaces for personal relationships. They also value the networks in improving their social skills. These results suggest that online social networks are important to young people with physical disabilities in their social relationships, and may also help to design programs aimed at promoting social integration.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Adelman, M., Parks, M. y Albrecht, T. (1987). Beyond close relationships: Support in weak ties. En T. L. Albrecht y M. B. Adelman (Eds.), Communicating Social Support (pp.126-147). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Aguaded, J.I. (2009). El Parlamento Europeo apuesta por la alfabetización mediática. Comunicar, 32, 7-8.

Alexander, S. C., Peterson, J. L. y Hollingshead, A. B. (2003). Help is at your keyboard: support groups on the Internet. In L. R. Frey (Ed.), Group communication in context: Studies of bona fide groups (pp. 309–334). New York: Erlbaum.

Asociación para la Investigación de los Medios de Comunicación. (2011). Navegantes en la red. 13ª encuesta AIMC a usuarios de Internet (http://www.aimc.es)

Beranuy, M., Lusar, A. Graner, C. y Carbonell Sánchez, X. (2009). Validación de dos escalas breves para evaluar la adicción a Internet y el abuso del móvil. Psicothema, 21, 480-485.

Bernete, F. (2010). Usos de las TIC, relaciones sociales y cambios en la socialización de las y los jóvenes. Revista de estudios de juventud, 88, 97-114.

Buckingham, D. (2008). Más allá de la tecnología. Aprendizaje infantil en la era de la cultura digital. Buenos Aires: Manantial.

Cruzado, L., Matos, L. y Kendall, R. (2006). Adicción a Internet: Perfil clínico y epidemiológico de pacientes hospitalizados en un instituto nacional de salud mental. Revista Medica Herediana, 17, 196-205.

Echeburúa, E. y Corral, P. (2009). Las adicciones con o sin droga: una patología de la libertad. En E. Echeburúa, F.J. Labrador y E. Becoña (Eds.), Adicción a las nuevas tecnologías en adolescentes y jóvenes (pp. 29-44). Madrid: Pirámide.

Finn, J. (1999). An exploration of helping processes in an online self-help group focusing on issues of disability. Health and Social Work, 24, 220-231. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hsw/24.3.220

Fogel J., Albert S.M., Schnabel F., Ditkoff, B.A. y Neugut, A. I. (2002). Internet use and social support in women with breast cancer. Health Psychology, 21, 398-404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.21.4.398

Fowler, J.H. y Christakis, N.A. (2009). The Dynamic Spread of Happiness in a Large Social Network: Longitudinal Analysis Over 20 Years in the Framingham Heart Study. British Medical Journal, 337, 1-9.

García del Castillo, J.A., Terol, M.C., Nieto, M., Lledó, A., Sánchez, S., Martín-Aragón, M. y Sitges, E. (2008). Uso y abuso de Internet en jóvenes universitarios. Adicciones, 20, 131-142.

Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78, 1360-1380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/225469

Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, Cultural and Media Studies: The Key Concepts. London: Routledge. http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203449936

Hoybye, M. T., Johansen, C., y Tjornhoj-Thomsen, T. (2005). Online interaction: Effects of storytelling in an Internet breast cancer support group. Psycho-Oncology, 14, 211-220. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pon.837

INE (2008). Encuesta de Discapacidad, Autonomía personal y situaciones de Dependencia. Madrid: EDAD.

Jimenez, L. y Pantoja, A. V. (2007). Autoestima y relaciones Interpersonales en sujetos adictos a Internet. Psicología-Segunda Época, 26, 78-79.

Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Landmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukophadhyay, T. y Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox: a social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well being? American Psychologist, 53, 1017–1031. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.53.9.1017

Latiesa, M. (1996).Validez y fiabilidad de las observaciones sociológicas. En M. García, J. Ibáñez y F.Alvira (Eds.), El análisis de la realidad social. Métodos y técnicas de investigación. Madrid: Alianza.

Lenhart, A., Madden, M., Rankin Macgill, A. y Smith, A. (2007). Teens and social media: The use of social media gains a greater foothold in teen life as they embrace the conversational nature of interactive online media. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. Obtenido el 10 de septiembre del 2011. En: http://www.pewinternet.org//media//Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Social_Media_Final.pdf.pdf

Livingstone, S. (2008). Taking risky opportunities in youthful content creation: teenagers’ use of social networking sites for intimacy, privacy and self-expression. New media and society, 10, 393-411. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1461444808089415

Livingstone, S. y Helsper, E. (2010). Balancing Opportunities and Risks in Teenagers’ Use of the Internet: the Role of On-line Skills and Internet Self-efficacy. New Media & Society, 12, 309-329. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1461444809342697

Losada, J. L. y López-Feal, R. (2003). Métodos de investigación en ciencias humanas y sociales. Madrid: Thomson.

Mickelson, K. D. (1997). Seeking social support: Parents in electronic support groups. En S. Kiesler (Ed.), Culture of the Internet (pp. 157–178). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Morahan-Martin, J. y Schumacher, P. (2003). Loneliness and social uses of the Internet. Computers in Human Behavior, 19, 659-671. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0747-5632(03)00040-2

Moral, J.A. de (2007). Redes sociales y wikis. En O. Rojas, J.L. Antúnez, J.A. Gelado, J.A. del Moral, J.A. Casas y R. Alatriste (Eds.), Web 2.0. Madrid: ESIC.

Niemz, K., Griffiths, M. y Banyard, P. (2005). Prevalence of pathological Internet use among university students and correlations with self-esteem, the general health qustionaire (GHQ), and disinhibition. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 8, 562-570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2005.8.562

Poch, F. (2009). Uso autoinformado de Internet en adolescentes: Perfil psicológico de un uso elevado de red. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 9, 109-122.

Robinson, J., Kestnbaum, M., Neustadtl, A. y Alvarez, A. (2000). Mass Media and social life among internet users. Social Science Computer Review, 18, 490–501.http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/089443930001800411

Rubio-Gil, A. (2010). Generación digital: patrones de consumo de internet, cultura juvenil y cambio social. Revista de estudios de juventud, 88, 201-221.

Suriá, R. y Beléndez, M. (2011). Grupos de apoyo virtuales dedicados a problemas de salud: estudio de su tipología y análisis de su representatividad. Anales de Psicología, 27, 210-220.

Tully, C.J. (2007). La socialización en el presente digital. Informalización y contextualización. Revista iberoamericana de ciencia, tecnología y sociedad, 8, 9-22.

UCLA Internet Report (2000). Surveying the Digital Future. Los Angeles: UCLA. Obtenido el 12 de noviembre de 2005. En: http://www.ccp.ucla.edu/newsite/pages/internet-report.asp.

Weinberg, N., Schmale, J., Uken, J. y Wessel, K. (1995). Computer-mediated support groups. Social Work with Groups, 17, 43-54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J009v17n04_04

Wright, K. (2000). Computer-mediated social support, older adults, and coping. Journal of Communication, 50, 100-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02855.x

Yang, S.C. y Tung, C. (2007). Comparison of Internet Addicts and non-Addicts in Taiwanese High School. Computers in Human Behavior, 23, 79-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.037

Young K. (2009). Online Social Networking: An Australian Perspective. International Journal of Emerging Technologies & Society, 7, 39-57.

Zubeidat, I., Salinas, J. y Sierra, J. (2008). Evaluacion de factores asociados a la ansiedad social y a otras psicopatologias en adolescentes, Clinica y salud, 31, 189-196.

Published

2012-12-31

How to Cite

Suriá Martínez, R. (2012). Online social networks and using them to improve social skills in young people with disabilities. Escritos De Psicología - Psychological Writings, 5(3), 16–23. https://doi.org/10.24310/espsiescpsi.v5i3.13302

Issue

Section

Research Reports