title: Lurking as an active participation process: a longitudinal investigation of engagement with an online cancer support group.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Telecommunications , University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Jeong Yeob
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jiran
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Eunkyung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gustafson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D061108:Social Media; D012944:Social Support