{"id":{"repo_id":"loma-linda","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1132"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/loma-linda/oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1132","repository":{"repo_id":"loma-linda","name":"Loma Linda University","base_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Linguistic Predictors of Peer Responsiveness in an Online Cancer Support Group","abstract":"Introduction: Little is known about how group cohesion develops in online support group communities. Previous research suggests that message content, selfdisclosure, and emotional expression may be central to this process. The purpose of this study was to identify linguistic and qualitative characteristics of participants.' Messages that predict how other participants respond in an asynchronous discussion board for cancer-related distress. Method: 525 discussion board messages posted by 116 participants in the healthspace.net trial were collected. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (2001) was used to identify linguistic markers of emotional expression and pronoun use. Message topics were identified using qualitative analysis. Logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to evaluate whether linguistic characteristics and message topics predicted receiving a response from other survivors in the online group. Results: Messages were more likely to receive a reply if they had higher word count, OR=1.30, p=.001, or fewer second person pronouns, OR=.923, p=.040. Messages were less likely to receive a reply if they evidenced high levels of positive emotion, OR=.94, p=.03. The most common message topics related to self-disclosure (51%), the group (38.5%), medical experiences (30.9%,), and experiences related to the website (30.1%). Several types of message topics were associated with greater likelihood of a reply: self-disclosure (p<.001), medical experiences (p=.01), relationship issues (p=.05), and introductory posts (p<.01). Implications: Informing participants how to introduce themselves to the group (i.e., detailed and self-focused messages discussing personal issues such as the effects of illness on life and relationships) could promote cohesion and enhance overall intervention engagement.","abstract_html":"Introduction: Little is known about how group cohesion develops in online support group communities. Previous research suggests that message content, selfdisclosure, and emotional expression may be central to this process. The purpose of this study was to identify linguistic and qualitative characteristics of participants.' Messages that predict how other participants respond in an asynchronous discussion board for cancer-related distress. Method: 525 discussion board messages posted by 116 participants in the healthspace.net trial were collected. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (2001) was used to identify linguistic markers of emotional expression and pronoun use. Message topics were identified using qualitative analysis. Logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to evaluate whether linguistic characteristics and message topics predicted receiving a response from other survivors in the online group. Results: Messages were more likely to receive a reply if they had higher word count, OR=1.30, p=.001, or fewer second person pronouns, OR=.923, p=.040. Messages were less likely to receive a reply if they evidenced high levels of positive emotion, OR=.94, p=.03. The most common message topics related to self-disclosure (51%), the group (38.5%), medical experiences (30.9%,), and experiences related to the website (30.1%). Several types of message topics were associated with greater likelihood of a reply: self-disclosure (p<.001), medical experiences (p=.01), relationship issues (p=.05), and introductory posts (p<.01). Implications: Informing participants how to introduce themselves to the group (i.e., detailed and self-focused messages discussing personal issues such as the effects of illness on life and relationships) could promote cohesion and enhance overall intervention engagement.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Lewallen, Andrea"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Owen, Jason","Herbozo, Sylvia","Vermeersch, David"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-03-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-03-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:15Z","subjects":["Clinical Psychology","Online Health Resources; Online Support; Group Processes; Cancer; Neoplasms; Adaptation, Psychological; Social networks","Online cancer support groups","Peer responsiveness","Cancer adjustment and coping","Group cohesion"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/133","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Owen, Jason","Herbozo, Sylvia","Vermeersch, David"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Lewallen, Andrea"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Clinical Psychology","Online Health Resources; Online Support; Group Processes; Cancer; Neoplasms; Adaptation, Psychological; Social networks","Online cancer support groups","Peer responsiveness","Cancer adjustment and coping","Group cohesion"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/133"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Introduction: Little is known about how group cohesion develops in online support group communities. Previous research suggests that message content, selfdisclosure, and emotional expression may be central to this process. The purpose of this study was to identify linguistic and qualitative characteristics of participants.' Messages that predict how other participants respond in an asynchronous discussion board for cancer-related distress. Method: 525 discussion board messages posted by 116 participants in the healthspace.net trial were collected. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (2001) was used to identify linguistic markers of emotional expression and pronoun use. Message topics were identified using qualitative analysis. Logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to evaluate whether linguistic characteristics and message topics predicted receiving a response from other survivors in the online group. Results: Messages were more likely to receive a reply if they had higher word count, OR=1.30, p=.001, or fewer second person pronouns, OR=.923, p=.040. Messages were less likely to receive a reply if they evidenced high levels of positive emotion, OR=.94, p=.03. The most common message topics related to self-disclosure (51%), the group (38.5%), medical experiences (30.9%,), and experiences related to the website (30.1%). Several types of message topics were associated with greater likelihood of a reply: self-disclosure (p<.001), medical experiences (p=.01), relationship issues (p=.05), and introductory posts (p<.01). Implications: Informing participants how to introduce themselves to the group (i.e., detailed and self-focused messages discussing personal issues such as the effects of illness on life and relationships) could promote cohesion and enhance overall intervention engagement."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Linguistic Predictors of Peer Responsiveness in an Online Cancer Support Group"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Owen, Jason","Herbozo, Sylvia","Vermeersch, David"],"dc:creator":["Lewallen, Andrea"],"dc:description.abstract":["Introduction: Little is known about how group cohesion develops in online support group communities. Previous research suggests that message content, selfdisclosure, and emotional expression may be central to this process. The purpose of this study was to identify linguistic and qualitative characteristics of participants.' Messages that predict how other participants respond in an asynchronous discussion board for cancer-related distress. Method: 525 discussion board messages posted by 116 participants in the healthspace.net trial were collected. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (2001) was used to identify linguistic markers of emotional expression and pronoun use. Message topics were identified using qualitative analysis. Logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to evaluate whether linguistic characteristics and message topics predicted receiving a response from other survivors in the online group. Results: Messages were more likely to receive a reply if they had higher word count, OR=1.30, p=.001, or fewer second person pronouns, OR=.923, p=.040. Messages were less likely to receive a reply if they evidenced high levels of positive emotion, OR=.94, p=.03. The most common message topics related to self-disclosure (51%), the group (38.5%), medical experiences (30.9%,), and experiences related to the website (30.1%). Several types of message topics were associated with greater likelihood of a reply: self-disclosure (p<.001), medical experiences (p=.01), relationship issues (p=.05), and introductory posts (p<.01). Implications: Informing participants how to introduce themselves to the group (i.e., detailed and self-focused messages discussing personal issues such as the effects of illness on life and relationships) could promote cohesion and enhance overall intervention engagement."],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/133"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"dc:subject":["Clinical Psychology","Online Health Resources; Online Support; Group Processes; Cancer; Neoplasms; Adaptation, Psychological; Social networks","Online cancer support groups","Peer responsiveness","Cancer adjustment and coping","Group cohesion"],"dc:title":["Linguistic Predictors of Peer Responsiveness in an Online Cancer Support Group"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:15Z"}