Online Experiences, Internet-Fostered Connection, Resilience, and Adjustment Among Adolescent Siblings of Children With Cancer.
Sarah E Wawrzynski, Kristin G Cloyes, Kamyar Arasteh and 4 others
PMID 37862436WHAT IT FOUND
Adolescent siblings of children with cancer who reported more negative online experiences had more post-traumatic stress and behavioral difficulties.
Positive online experiences helped them feel connected to family and friends but did not reduce these symptoms. Resilience appeared to be eroded by negative online interactions.
Key findings
01Negative online experiences were significantly associated with higher post-traumatic stress symptoms and total emotional and behavioral difficulties.
02Positive online experiences were associated with greater perceived connection to friends and family online, but this connection did not significantly reduce post-traumatic stress or behavioral difficulties.
03Resilience mediated the relationship between negative online experiences and emotional and behavioral difficulties, suggesting negative interactions erode resilience which then leads to poorer adjustment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine cause and effect; it is unclear if negative online experiences cause distress or if distressed siblings are more likely to encounter negative online situations. The sample size was relatively small (81 participants), limiting the ability to examine differences among demographic groups. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced both psychosocial adjustment and technology use patterns. There are no validated measures for internet-fostered connection, so the researchers used a composite of two items from a dissertation scale, which may not fully capture the construct.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that encouraging online social connection will reduce distress in these siblings. The study found that while positive online experiences increased feelings of connection, this connection did not lower post-traumatic stress or behavioral difficulties.