Teens Seek Emotional Support Online

A University of Alberta researcher discovered many teens are seeking emotional support from an online community.

Elaine Greidanus, a graduate student Educational Psychology, says many teens aren’t picking up a phone, or seeing a counselor — they’re more likely logging onto the Internet for emotional support.

Greidanus analyzed an online help site, where teens’ emotional problems could create an anonymous thread. Trained volunteers would write messages including: It sounds like you are experiencing a lot of pain right now.

The teens also got support and advice from other adolescents who were online.

The researchers found the supportive messages helped the participants develop a relationship and a sense of community with their peers.

Greidanus said the teens emphasized the importance of expressing their thoughts and feelings to a community that understood, suggesting the online community created an opportunity to seek and receive social support they might not otherwise have.