| The present study investigates peer relationships in adolescents ages 14--17 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who attend Camp Oasis and utilize Facebook. Social support, social connectedness, Internet socialization, and IBD-specific health-related quality of life measures were taken pre- and post-Camp Oasis, and again after time spent in an IBD-specific Facebook called "Continuing Camp Oasis". Statistical analysis of these measures paired with social network analysis of the Facebook group provided insight regarding if the positive effects that result from peer relationships developed at Camp Oasis are maintained online. Previous work concluded that health-related quality of life improves in adolescents with IBD after attending Camp Oasis, therefore it was expected that the improvement would continue through online interaction for the months following Camp Oasis. Findings from this study will inform the developing body of knowledge regarding social networking in adolescence, the pediatric psychology community, and the Collaborative Chronic Care Network (C3N). |
