{"title":"Let's Quit Together: Exploring Textual Factors Promoting Supportive Interactions in Online Cannabis Support Forums","authors":"Kuang-Yuan Huang, Yoanna Long, Xiao Cui","doi":"10.1145/3614178.3614181","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"There is an increasing number of cannabis users joining online cannabis support forums seeking social support for their withdrawal attempts. In this study we propose a research model focused on online cannabis support forums, hypothesizing about the effects of the textual features of the subject lines of discussion threads and thread-initiating messages on the quality and helpfulness of discussion threads. We tested the proposed model by analyzing 27,167 discussion threads downloaded from a large online support forum for cannabis quitters. The effectiveness of thread subject lines and the self-disclosure of emotion-related withdrawal symptoms in thread-initiating messages positively predicted the amount of informational and emotional support received in a thread. The self-disclosure of behavioral physical-related withdrawal symptoms and the diversity of self-disclosure information predicted informational support but not emotional support. Additionally, the amount of informational and emotional support received in a thread were positively associated with the thread initiator's continued discussions in the thread. Lastly, emotional support, but not informational support, predicted the overall helpfulness of a thread. Research and practical implications of the study's findings are discussed.","PeriodicalId":46842,"journal":{"name":"Data Base for Advances in Information Systems","volume":"3 1","pages":"11 - 36"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2023-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Data Base for Advances in Information Systems","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1145/3614178.3614181","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
There is an increasing number of cannabis users joining online cannabis support forums seeking social support for their withdrawal attempts. In this study we propose a research model focused on online cannabis support forums, hypothesizing about the effects of the textual features of the subject lines of discussion threads and thread-initiating messages on the quality and helpfulness of discussion threads. We tested the proposed model by analyzing 27,167 discussion threads downloaded from a large online support forum for cannabis quitters. The effectiveness of thread subject lines and the self-disclosure of emotion-related withdrawal symptoms in thread-initiating messages positively predicted the amount of informational and emotional support received in a thread. The self-disclosure of behavioral physical-related withdrawal symptoms and the diversity of self-disclosure information predicted informational support but not emotional support. Additionally, the amount of informational and emotional support received in a thread were positively associated with the thread initiator's continued discussions in the thread. Lastly, emotional support, but not informational support, predicted the overall helpfulness of a thread. Research and practical implications of the study's findings are discussed.