An empirical investigation of users’ engagement in online health communities for chronic diseases

Online Health Communities (OHCs) have emerged as a pivotal resource for individuals managing chronic diseases, serving as a vital supplement to traditional healthcare delivery systems. This study seeks to investigate the dynamics of OHC engagement among users with chronic diseases at various stages of their membership lifecycle. We hypothesize that the initial objectives users have when joining OHCs significantly shape their continued involvement. By embracing the theories of Uses and Gratifications (U&G) and Social Support (SST), we examine how users' goals for seeking information and emotional support, as well as the support they receive in these areas, influence their progression through different stages of engagement. Our empirical analysis uncovers that the goal of seeking information is most closely associated with the selection stage, while the goals of seeking emotional support and receiving emotional support are more closely linked to the commitment stage. Moreover, the degree of alignment between seeking emotional support and receiving emotional support has a significant impact on users' commitment stage activities, whereas the alignment between seeking information and receiving informational support does not significantly affect users' activities. The pattern of user interaction also plays a role in shaping their commitment stage activities and moderates the relationship between emotional support and commitment stage engagement. Our findings can guide OHC moderators and healthcare providers in more effectively leveraging OHCs for healthcare-related purposes.