Self-Help Web Sites for Eating Disorders: Questionnaire


Online self-help Web sites provide individuals with an inexpensive, highly accessible, and anonymous way to receive valuable information (e.g. research links, referrals, events etc.) and experience communication, connecting two or more people (e.g. discussion/message board, chatrooms/instant messaging).

Please indicate the name of the self-help Web site, from which you are filling out this survey:

(A) This Self-Help Web site on Eating Disorders

(1) Do you visit self-help Web sites other than this Web site on Eating Disorders?

Yes No

(a) If yes, how many other self-help Web sites for eating disorders do you visit?

    

1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
11 or more

 
 

(2) How often on average do you visit this Web site for Eating Disorders?

    

Less than once a month
Once a month
Once every 2 or 3 weeks
Once a week
2 to 6 days a week
Everyday
More than once a day

   
(a) How long have you been using this Web site?

Less than a week
1 - 4 weeks
2 - 5 months
6 - 11 months
More than a year


(3) Why are you visiting this site? (Please check all that apply)

For myself
As a family member or friend of an individual with an eating disorder.
I am professional (i.e. doctor, psychologist, counselor etc.).

(4) Self-help Web sites on eating disorders often provide separate chatrooms and bulletin boards for both family and friends of individuals with an eating disorder and for individuals with an eating disorder. How helpful is this aspect/component of the site to you:
Not at all helpful
Neutral
  
Very helpful

(a) Please Explain:


(5) Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
*SD = Strongly Disagree, D = Disagree, N = Neutral, A = Agree, SA = Strongly Agree

 
SD
D
N
A
SA
(a) I consider this Web site to be an important source of support
(b) I have met people on this Web site who I now consider to be friends
(c) I feel the information that I share on this Web site will be kept confidential
(d) I feel safe posting my thoughts and feelings on this site
(e) I feel safe posting personal information (real name, age, location) on this site
(f) I feel that this Web site is geared towards me
(g) Since visiting this Web site, I feel comfortable talking to people on this site about eating disorders
(h) I have found information on this Web site that has helped me or a loved one to decrease eating disordered behaviour
(i) This Web site has encouraged me to seek outside help for a loved one or myself
(j) Coming to this Web sites makes me feel better about myself
(k) I find the information on this Web site to be personally helpful
(l) I find the information on this Web site to be accurate
(m) I trust information on this Web site which is posted by the site's author
(n) I trust the information on this Web site which is posted by other users
(o) I feel that coming to this Web site has increased my knowledge about eating disorders

(B) Frequency of use and helpfulness of certain aspects of self-help Web sites for eating disorders

  Please rate your frequency of use:
Please rate the helpfulness:
 
Never
Once a month
Once every 2 or 3 weeks
Once a week
2 to 4 days a week
Everyday
More than once a day
Not at all helpful
2
Neutral
4
Very helpful
(6) Bulletin/Message Board (online communication conducted at different times)
(7) Instant Messaging/Chatrooms (live text communication)
(8) Special Events Bulletin Board (e.g. events and upcoming workshops)
(9) Links (to research and newspaper articles related to eating disorders)
(10) Promotion of current and future research studies on eating disorders
(11) Information on treatment options for eating disorders
(12) Information on recovery from eating disorders
(13) Information on prevention of eating disorders
(14) Information on diagnosis of eating disorders
(15) Local Contacts (e.g. referrals to therapists, doctors, or medical centers)

(C) Social Support

(16) Are you currently receiving social support from a source other than the Internet?

Yes No

(a) If you answered yes to the previous question, please indicate which of the following people/sources of social support you are currently receiving: (Please check all that apply)

    

Medical doctor
Psychiatrist or Psychologist
On-line friends independent of this Web site
Community mental health worker
Advisor or Spiritual Counselor
Face-to-face support group(s)
Family
Off-line Friend(s)
Co-workers
Other (Please specify)

 
 

(17) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:
*VSD = Very Strongly Disagree, SD = Strongly Disagree, D = Disagree, N = Neutral, A = Agree, SA = Strongly Agree, VSA = Very Strongly Agree
 
VSD
SD
D
N
A
SA
VSA
(a) There is a special person who is around when I am in need
(b) There is a special person with whom I share my joys and sorrows.
(c) My family really tries to help me.
(d) I get the emotional help and support I need from my family.
(e) I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me.
(f) My friends really try to help me.
(g) I can count on my friends when things go wrong.
(h) I can talk about my problems with my family.
(i) I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.
(j) There is a special person in my life who cares about my feelings.
(k) My family is willing to help me make decisions.
(l) I can talk about my problems with my friends

(18) I have found one or more components/aspects of this self-help Web site for eating disorders to be harmful:

Yes No

(a) Please indicate which component(s) you feel is harmful and explain why:


(D) Demographics

(19) Please indicate your gender:

Female Male
(20) Please indicate your age:
(21) Please indicate what country you reside in:

(22) Please indicate the highest educational level you have reached:

   

No High School
Some High School Completed
High School Graduate
Occupational Training
University Graduate
Post Graduate
College Graduate
Other (Please specify)

   

(23) How much time do you spend on the Internet in a week?

Less than 1 hour
1 to 3 hours
4 to 7 hours
8 to 14 hours
15+ hours

(24) How did you first come to this site? (Please check all that apply)

Recommended by a doctor or other professional
Recommended by a friend/family member
Through a search engine
Through a link from another site
A recommendation from another source (i.e. book, newspaper recommendation)
Other (Please specify)

(25) Why do you come to this site. (Please check all that apply)

Information on eating disorders
Communication
Support
Validation
Other (Please specify)

(26) Please indicate which of the following applies to you:

I currently have an eating disorder.
I am trying to recover from an eating disorder.
I consider myself recovered from an eating disorder.
I think I might have an eating disorder but, am not sure.
I am a family member or friend of an individual with an eating disorder.
I am professional (i.e. doctor, psychologist, counselor etc…).
Other (Please specify):

(E) A Follow Up Question:
(27) Because this study may be emotionally involving, we are interested in your reactions. To help us plan future studies, please indicate which of the following statements best describes your reactions during this session. Please use the following scale:

I was not at all upset by this study.
I was a little upset by this study.
I was somewhat upset and yet not enough to make me consider discontinuing my participation.
I was upset and yet I thought my participation was valuable; I would probably do it again.
I was so upset that I now wish I had not participated in this study.
(F) Satisfaction Statements:
(28) The following is an exercise that psychologists sometimes offer so that people can reflect on some of the more positive things in life and nurture a more positive frame of mind. You may be interested in this exercise, especially if the questionnaire you just completed has made you feel a bit discouraged or upset. Trying this exercise may help you feel better as you prepare to leave this session, although there is no obligation and you are also free to decline.

We are interested in whether people are choosing to read the Satisfaction Statements and complete the Satisfaction exercise after completing the questionnaire. Please indicate whether you have decided to complete this exercise by choosing the statement that describes you.

I have chosen to read the satisfaction statements.
I have chosen NOT to read the satisfaction statements.

If you decide to go ahead, begin by reading and thinking about each of the following statements.

•  Today I'm doing fine.

•  Whether I'm with others or alone, I can feel relaxed and content.

•  I am pleased to be in university; I am learning more and more.

•  This might just turn out to be an easy day for me.

•  I feel relaxed and content.

•  I prefer to take it one day at a time.

•  The smell of spring and the color of fall soothes me.

•  I feel ready to just sit back and relax.

•  I am ready to go for a warm walk in the sun.

•  With each passing day, I feel just a little more sure of my life.

•  I feel like humming quiet music to myself.

•  I could enjoy having friends over for quiet conversation.

Now that you are feeling a little more at ease and comfortable, concentrate on this feeling. Feel it getting stronger and stronger, more and more peaceful. Let it continue to build. Think about things that have happened in your life that have made you feel very satisfied: listening to good music, walking outdoors on a warm day, or sitting by a fire with friends. This in turn will make you think of other things in your life that have made you feel at ease and satisfied. Do and think whatever you can to build this comfortable and confident mood. Close your eyes and try that now.


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