Post your journey: analyzing the formation of an instagram support community for those living with fibromyalgia

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dc.contributor.authorBerard, Ashley Ann
dc.contributor.supervisorSmith, Andre
dc.date.accessioned2016-12-23T20:47:20Z
dc.date.available2016-12-23T20:47:20Z
dc.date.copyright2016en_US
dc.date.issued2016-12-23
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Sociology
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en_US
dc.description.abstractFibromyalgia is a chronic illness characterized by debilitating symptoms such as unpredictable widespread pain, fatigue and migraines. Social support can be a crucial factor in illness management for individuals living with this medically contested, stigmatized and marginalized illness. For many, social media is a significant aspect of their daily reality and in this social space, new forms of relationships and communities have begun to form. This study explores the ways in which a new form of support community for fibromyalgia develops and maintains itself on the social media platform Instagram. A mixed-method research design incorporating both a content and semiotic analysis of Instagram posts as well as interviews with participants utilizing the app was conducted to shed light on the ways in which the relatively new phenomenon of sharing illness experience and support occur on Instagram.en_US
dc.description.proquestemailaberard@uvic.caen_US
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/7696
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectChronic Illnessen_US
dc.subjectFibromyalgiaen_US
dc.subjectSocial Mediaen_US
dc.subjectHealthen_US
dc.subjectInstagramen_US
dc.subjectOnline Communityen_US
dc.titlePost your journey: analyzing the formation of an instagram support community for those living with fibromyalgiaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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