Health orientation and disease state as predictors of online health support group use
Abstract
What are the antecedents to the usage of online health-based support groups? This article draws on the motivation literature to posit the role of disposition-specific and situation-specific motivations in shaping the use of online health support groups. Based on 2 different nationally representative studies, it examines the role of situation-specific and disposition-specific motivations as predictors of online health community participation. Study results point out that intrinsic health orientation is a positive predictor of participation in an online health community. In addition, disease-specific motivation in the realm of perceived susceptibility to a disease or being detected with a disease triggers online community participation in disease-specific groups. The study results provide theoretical and practical guidelines for future scholarship.
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Online health communities are the most robust social media sources for peer-generated health information.
“Online health communities (OHCs)—Internet-based discussion forums where individuals converse with one another about health topics—are the most robust social media sources for peer-generated health information.[9–12]”
From Perceived healthcare provider reactions to patient and caregiver use of online health communities (2014) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Dutta, M. J., & Feng, H.
- Affiliations
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- University of Minnesota, Duluth (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dutta, Mohan J.
- ORCID
- Dutta, Mohan J.
- Venue
- Health Communication
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-08-08
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 181-189
- ISSN
- 1041-0236 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7027
- OpenAlex
- W2094722396
- Cited by
- 62
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Communication (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Social Sciences › Communication › Knowledge Management and Sharing
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Keywords
- health orientation, intrinsic motivation, perceived susceptibility, online community participation, health behavior change
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Attitude to Health, Female, Health Status, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Motivation, Self-Help Groups, United States, Internet
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