I think the problem might be related to using empowerment as a health outcome.  It's too broad a concept.  Consider thinking in more measurable terms, such as identity salience, lowered internalized homo/bi/transphobia, or increased social involvement.

Thank you! I will look into it.

You might consider using something like Bales' Interaction Process Analysis to identify and tag messages meeting the criterion of 'supportive' and then correlate these with terms associated with the 'empowerment' concept, which I agree is very broad. For example, you are likely to come across indicators of 'self-efficacy' in the language of the user (e.g. 'can do' intentions, expressions of personal confidence, reports of action having been taken as a consequence of social media participation). Users may also refer to empowering decision tools, information or contacts, of which they have become aware via social media - the availability of a means of achieving action being one aspect of 'empowerment' in addition to the experience of empowerment and the action itself.

Thank you! I actually managed to find some connections between emotional, informational, and instrumental support and empowerment. We can't look at the language at this point, but we are going to use the comment threads as means of achieving  action, like you said. 

Excellent :) I look forward to reading your research when it is published!

Hi Ana,

I think social support can lead to empowerment but under some conditions, otherwise it can be even reduce the power of people. Imaging  over supportive parents, their  children  more likely will be those with low self confidence and perceived self power. The other point is that people should seek power,  they should want to be empowered, always would be people who prefer not to be! Having these two points in mind, social support can be empowering if it can help people to see their power, believe their power,  want to use their power, have the opportunity to apply their power and finally experience success in applying their power for better  choices and better life. Hope this helps.

I also would like to know your perspectives on my questions about the responsibility of health promoters regarding political determinants of health which  reduces  our individual and collective power for healthy life.

Best

Nastaran 

Empowerment is one of those terms (Like resiliance etc) which in the words of Terry Eagleton is unequivably good .Like being asked in an Irish pub ,would you like another guiness.It would be sacrlege to disagree with the idea.It is of course a loaded political moralistic  neo liberal term sliding along the instututional to resdidual trajectory of social care.Actually Anna your last remark has the making of a stunning research question "Social Care and Empowerment ;Is there any connection? "Regards and good luck ,you are asking some very good questions       

Thank you Tony! Let's see how it works out. 

Thank you Nastaran for your input! As about your question, what exactly do you mean by "political determinants of health"?

Hi Dear Ana,

This is  my question in Researchgate. You can  go to my page and see my introduction there.

Best

Nastaran

Hi Ana,

Your work sounds really intriguing! I have looked at similar issues through the lens of online family of choice networks. Essentially, by creating a sustainable online community--LGBTQ individuals are able to buffer the impact of a lack of support from their family of origin. Moreover, the online family is able to provide an avenue for meaning-making and interactive exchanges--leading to relational resilience.

I have attached two of my more recent publications on these issues and the cites are below--please dont hesitate to reach out to me with any further questions. 

Etengoff, C. & Daiute, C. (In Press). Online Coming Out Communications between Gay Men and their Religious Family Allies: A Family of Choice and Origin Perspective, Journal of GLBT Family Studies. doi: 10.1080/1550428X.2014.964442

Etengoff, C. & Rodriguez, E.M. (In Press) LGBTQ Online Communications: Building Community through Blogs, Vlogs & Facebook. In A.E. Goldberg (Ed.) The SAGE Encyclopedia of LGBTQ Studies. SAGE.

Dear Chana,

Thank you so much for the input and for the articles! I will check them out!

Social support, social networks and empowerment would seem an obvious link. On an individual basis this includes self-help groups that provide knowledge, skills and social support around issues such as smoking cessation, dieting and exercise classes. Social networks and social support are developed through a process of interaction, as discussed in Chapter 2 of book below, at the individual, group and community levels. To address the inequalities in health individuals have a better chance of success if they can act collectively. 

Laverack, G. (2007) Health Promotion Practice: building empowered communities. London. Open University Press.

Networks can be an indication of related health behaviour, for example, the biological and behavioural traits associated with obesity appear to be spread through social ties. People who experience the weight gain of others in their social networks may then more readily accept weight gain in themselves. Moreover, social distance was more important than geographic distance within networks and there was an important role for a process involving the induction and person-to-person spread of obesity. Soical support interventions that allow for a modification of people’s social networks are more successful than those that do not. Social networks can be used to also spread positive health behaviours because people’s perceptions of their own risk of illness depend on the people around them (Christakis and Fowler, 2007).

Thank you Glenn! I will check the sources you indicated.