Making Come-Alive and Keeping Un-Alive: How People Relate to Self-Guided Web-Based Health Interventions. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holter, Marianne T. S.; Ness, Ottar; Johansen, Ayna B.; Brendryen, Håvar
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 30:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 927
• Page End: 941
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: eHealth -- mHealth -- web-based interventions -- working alliance -- therapeutic alliance -- qualitative -- grounded theory -- interviewing -- Europe -- Scandinavia -- Norway; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732320902456
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

Health interventions delivered online (self-guided web-based interventions) may become more helpful through a person-to-program "working alliance." In psychotherapy, the working alliance signifies a therapeutically useful client–therapist relationship and includes an emotional bond. However, there exist no theories of how program users relate to online programs, or that explain a person-to-program bond theoretically. Addressing this gap, we conducted qualitative interviews with and collected program data from users of a self-guided web-based intervention. Taking a grounded theory approach, the analysis arrived at a model of relating based on two relational modes— making come-alive and keeping un-alive . Different combinations of these modes could describe a range of ways of relating to the program, including a nonsocial interaction, a semi-social interaction, and a semi-social relationship. A person-to-program bond is explained by the model as an experienced supportive social presence, enabled by making come-alive and a positive program interaction.