Internet social support for parents: the state of science.

TOPIC: Parents of emotionally disturbed young children have expressed the need for more social support but societal constraints limit their ability to obtain adequate social support.

PURPOSE: This paper discusses what is currently known about coping, social support and Internet social support. It proposes the use of electronic social support to meet the needs of parents of emotionally disturbed children.

SOURCE: Review of literature.

CONCLUSIONS: Electronic forms of social support have the potential to meet the identified needs of parents for more social support.