The use of the Internet as a tool for breast cancer advocacy and its association to sociopolitical empowerment

Yumary Ruiz, Purdue University

Abstract

Many studies chronicle the ever-increasing amounts of internet users. Likewise, numerous studies demonstrate the Internet's ability to increase civic participation and enhance advocacy practice. In the same way, a great deal of evidence identifies sociopolitical empowerment as a mechanism by which individuals participate in social action. But studies that examine the influence of sociopolitical empowerment on internet participation have yet to be developed. Given the growing number of health promotion practitioners and health advocates that are using the internet to promote and mobilize their audiences for the sake of public health issues, these health leaders need to be aware of the specific characteristics that influences internet users to participate in public health efforts. To fill this void in the health literature, this research integrated Zimmerman's (1995) theoretical perspective on empowerment with Holden and colleagues' (2004, 2005) research on empowerment within a public-health context. This cross-sectional study extended the health literature by: (a) examining if a relationship exists between the core concepts of sociopolitical empowerment including sociopolitical control, sociopolitical self-efficacy, participatory competence, awareness of resources, assertiveness skills, advocacy skills and participation within cancer websites, (b) examining if a relationship exists between predisposing factors, intrapersonal component, interactional component and the behavioral component of sociopolitical empowerment, and (c) determining whether group members of cancer websites agree with and corroborate the existence of empowering setting attributes, such as group cohesion, common belief system, and opportunities. This study's web-based survey collected information from N=355 Internet users who visited cancer websites seeking breast cancer information and/or to engage in online breast cancer related activities. Study results showed: (a) a predictive relationship between core concepts of sociopolitical empowerment and involvement in online breast cancer related activities, (b) a predictive relationship between behavioral component and predisposing factors, intrapersonal component and interactional component, and (c) the presence of empowering characteristics within online health-based associations. This, in turn, shed light on the Internet's potential to be an empowerment setting. Besides theoretical implications, this investigation is of practical import since it provides insights that are relevant to health website design. Results implications for future research are also addressed.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Templin, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Public health|Health education|Mass media

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