Technical Features of Asynchronous and Synchronous Community Platforms and their Effects on Community Cohesion: A Comparative Study of Forum-based and Chat-based Online Mental Health Communities

Abstract

Abstract Across online support communities, community cohesion varies by platform and can impact the self-disclosure of members and their exchanges of social support. Through a comparative study of forum and chat-based mental health communities, this research examines how technical features of both platforms influence community cohesion by affecting communication patterns among members, including evenness of communication, speed of communication, and number of participants. This study collected four weeks of data from 20 forum-based and 20 chat-based mental health communities in mainland China. Multilevel mediation analyses show that chat-based communities were more cohesive with higher member retention, network connectedness, and language conformity. Chat-based platforms facilitated faster communication and greater evenness of receiving messages among participants which in turn fostered community cohesion.