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Alt.support: modeling social support online

Computers in Human BehaviorPublished 26 April 2004
Matthew S. Eastin, Robert LaRose
Citations152
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score2.92
SNIP3.35

TL;DR

Preliminary evidence is offered suggesting that those who actively seek social support online are indeed finding it through a complex support system beginning with self-regulation.

Abstract

While there is mounting evidence that people use the Internet to expand their social networks and receive social support, little is known about how they do so and with what effect the Internet has on overall levels of social support. Based on a survey of 213 online support seekers, this study explored social cognitive mechanism such as self-efficacy and outcome expectations as predictors of support activity, online support reliance and support network size. From these relationships, we offer preliminary evidence suggesting that those who actively seek social support online are indeed finding it through a complex support system beginning with self-regulation.

Keywords

Social Sciences