Work

Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Online peer support groups (OPSGs) have been widely used in health and wellbeing interventions, but their effectiveness varies, influenced by the level of group engagement and the quality of interactions. This study explores the impact of structured elements, such as prompts and tasks, incorporated into OPSG design on peer support quality and group engagement. We analyse chat messages from two OPSGs aimed at reducing workplace sitting through exercise breaks. Despite identical study designs and similar participant demographics, the two OPSGs exhibited significant differences in group engagement, underscoring the importance of understanding group composition, organic interactions, and other factors influencing engagement. The findings emphasise the need for thoughtful OPSG design, including developing structured elements, to foster communication and improve the quality of interactions. Based on our findings, we discuss strategies to promote supportive exchange, focusing on the role of prompts, group cohesion, and social presence to enhance the effectiveness of OPSGs.

Source: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA)

DOI: 10.1145/3706599.3719818

Authors: Ekaterina Uetova, Lucy Hederman, Robert J. Ross, Marily Oppezzo, Dympna O'Sullivan

Institutions: Technological University Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Stanford University

Language: English

Topic: Health Literacy and Information Accessibility

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: ADAPT - Centre for Digital Content Technology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute