From The Key Update:

Lurkers Benefit from Online Support Groups

People who hang around on online support groups without posting anything 
to the group themselves may benefit almost as much as those who 
contribute, according to a recent Dutch study. The researchers surveyed 
volunteers from 19 Dutch online breast cancer support groups; of the 528 
people who completed surveys, 109 (21 percent) identified themselves as 
“lurkers.” Except for “enhanced social well-being,” the lurkers reported 
an impact on their sense of empowerment as significant as what was 
reported by those who actively participated in the groups, the 
researchers said. However, it should be noted that the study was flawed 
in that the researchers could not provide the total number of group 
members, as well as in other respects. A report on the study is 
available here.

Source: 
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/07/24/do-lurkers-benefit-from-online-support-groups/
Courtesy of http://www.trouble.philadelphiaweekly.com/



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