Lurking as an active participation process: a longitudinal investigation of
engagement with an online cancer support group
#MMPMID24345206
Han JY
; Hou J
; Kim E
; Gustafson DH
Health Commun
2014[]; 29
(9
): 911-23
PMID24345206
show ga
To better understand participation in computer-mediated social support (CMSS)
groups for breast cancer patients, this study examines two overarching questions
of (1) who are posters, lurkers, or nonusers and (2) what role do these different
types of engagement play in explaining psychosocial health outcomes? This study
incorporates the comprehensive model of information seeking and two competing
models of social enhancement and social compensation, as well as the literature
on lurking and posting behaviors in online groups to answer research questions.
Our findings suggest that patterns of engagement in a CMSS group differed
according to patients' sociodemographic characteristics and psychosocial factors.
In addition, we found that lurkers had a higher level of perceived functional
well-being than posters at 3 months post baseline. Theoretical and practical
implications for effective online cancer support group campaigns are discussed.
free
free
free
