Engaging Immigrant Women in Online Journaling as a Mode of Research and Psychosocial Support: Lessons Learned.

Abstract

Online journaling is a methodological tool that has also been shown to have therapeutic benefits for some populations. However, the potential value - and limitations - of online journaling within immigrant communities remain underexplored. We present a proof-of-concept analysis exploring the efficacy and feasibility of engaging immigrant women in an online journaling project. We report on a study that used online journaling as an approach to explore the long-term social impact of the pandemic on South Asian and Latinx immigrant women in New York City. Findings suggest that this method may work particularly well with immigrant women because of the constraints they face in accessing support for mental health distress. The digital nature of online journaling may also promote the inclusion of immigrants in journaling-based studies because of its capacity to offer participants a greater range of options for how, when, and under what circumstances they choose to engage. We highlight study findings, reflect critically on our research process, and offer recommendations for the use of online journaling in future research and community programming. We argue for the role of community-based partnerships in ensuring rich participant engagement.