Personality, Attitudes, and Behaviors Predicting Perceived Benefit in Online Support Groups (Preprint)

Abstract

Online Support Groups (OSGs) are distance-delivered, easily accessible health interventions offering emotional support, informational support, experience-based support, and companionship or network support for patients/caregivers managing chronic mental and physical health conditions.

This study aimed to examine the relative contribution of extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, positive attitudes toward OSGs, and typical past OSG usage patterns in predicting perceived OSG benefit in an OSG for parent caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

A mix method longitudinal design was used to collect data from 81 parents across Canada. Attitudes toward OSGs and typical OSG usage patterns were assessed using author-developed surveys administered at baseline, before OSG membership. The personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism were assessed at baseline using the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). Perceived OSG benefit was assessed using an author-developed survey, administered two months after initiation of OSG membership.

A hierarchical regression analysis found that extraversion was the only variable that significantly predicted perceived OSG benefit.

The key suggestions for improving future OSGs were facilitating more in-depth, customized, and interactive content in OSGs.