Health orientation and disease state as predictors of online health support group use.
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.
Department of Communication, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA. mdutta@purdue.edu
Mohan J
MJ
Dutta
Hairong
H
Feng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States