Table 2.

Key elements of categories.

Category and subcategories		Key elements
Safe communication: The OSGa needs to be experienced as safe and supportive to build social support
	Reciprocal disclosure	Self-disclosure of information and emotions Patterns of engagement for eliciting and providing support Giving support as helpful as receiving
	Shared life experiences	Personal narratives Second stories Emotional support in comments Use of nonverbal tools Exchange of learned knowledge and experience
	Nonjudgmental space	Expressions that would normally be stigmatized Second stories Exploration of identity Importance of similar others: experience, not demographics, key factor of similarity Importance of closeness of relationship with cared-for person
Engagement and group management: These are conditions necessary to enable social support to be built and positive experiences of the OSG
	Facilitation/moderation	Use of relevant professionals beneficial Active role needed in developing group cohesion Create tone, culture, and safety in the group Encourage engagement: responding to posts Monitor content
	Tone of the group	Low engagement protective action against the negative tone of the group Low engagement protective action against the emotional impact of the group content
	Structure of the group	Flexibility main benefit of online format OSG relieves social isolation Asynchronous format encouraged engagement Real or perceived anonymity encouraged disclosures Privacy extremely important No clear definition of engagement

^aOSG: online support group.