Visualizing support: Exploring emoji usage in online support groups through the lens of symbolic interactionism

IF 7.6 2区管理学 Q1 INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE

Telematics and Informatics Pub Date : 2025-02-17 DOI:10.1016/j.tele.2025.102252

Zizhong Zhang , Yue Luo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study explores the role of emojis in online support groups for mental health, focusing on depression and anxiety communities, through the lens of symbolic interactionism. By employing social network analysis and structural topic modeling, the research examines how users deploy emojis in different thematic contexts and how reciprocal emoji interactions form a communication network that fosters social support. The findings reveal that emojis serve not only as emotional expressions but also as tools for conveying empathy, encouragement, and help-seeking behaviors. Additionally, emojis are associated with emotional disclosure in online communities, supporting the communication of vulnerable topics. This study highlights the potential of emojis in enhancing digital health interventions, providing new insights into the non-verbal communication strategies employed in online support groups. It also offers practical implications for platform design and community management to improve user engagement and social support mechanisms.

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本研究通过符号互动论的视角，以抑郁和焦虑社区为重点，探讨了表情符号在心理健康在线支持小组中的作用。通过采用社会网络分析和结构主题建模，研究探讨了用户如何在不同主题背景下使用表情符号，以及互惠的表情符号互动如何形成一个促进社会支持的交流网络。研究结果表明，表情符号不仅是情感表达的工具，也是传递同情、鼓励和寻求帮助行为的工具。此外，表情符号还与网络社区中的情感披露有关，支持脆弱话题的交流。本研究强调了表情符号在加强数字健康干预方面的潜力，为了解在线支持团体中使用的非语言交流策略提供了新的视角。它还为平台设计和社区管理提供了实际意义，以提高用户参与度和社会支持机制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Telematics and Informatics INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE-

CiteScore

17.00

自引率

4.70%

发文量

104

审稿时长

24 days

期刊介绍： Telematics and Informatics is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes cutting-edge theoretical and methodological research exploring the social, economic, geographic, political, and cultural impacts of digital technologies. It covers various application areas, such as smart cities, sensors, information fusion, digital society, IoT, cyber-physical technologies, privacy, knowledge management, distributed work, emergency response, mobile communications, health informatics, social media's psychosocial effects, ICT for sustainable development, blockchain, e-commerce, and e-government.