Vicarious Interactions in Online Support Communities: The Roles of Visual Anonymity and Social Identification
Dublin Core
Title
Vicarious Interactions in Online Support Communities: The Roles of Visual Anonymity and Social Identification
Subject
Vicarious Interaction, Social Identification, The Social Identity Model Of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE), Visual Anonymity, Online Mental Health Community
Description
Online information seekers often do not actively post or engage in interactions with others, inviting
research on how passive users of online communities benefit from the information they see. Based on the social identity model of deindividuation effects model (SIDE) and social identity theory, we proposed and tested the idea that observers of a supportive interaction online could relate to the observed support seeker based on their shared gender and, in turn, become vicariously influenced by the support provider’s message to the support seeker. An experiment using a sample of young adults (N¼ 326) in the United States provided support to the proposition. Furthermore, the outcomes of the vicarious interaction were qualified by the genders of the observed interactants and enhanced by the lack of profile photos. The findings advance the understandings of vicarious interaction in online context and guide the design of online communities to promote mental well-being.
research on how passive users of online communities benefit from the information they see. Based on the social identity model of deindividuation effects model (SIDE) and social identity theory, we proposed and tested the idea that observers of a supportive interaction online could relate to the observed support seeker based on their shared gender and, in turn, become vicariously influenced by the support provider’s message to the support seeker. An experiment using a sample of young adults (N¼ 326) in the United States provided support to the proposition. Furthermore, the outcomes of the vicarious interaction were qualified by the genders of the observed interactants and enhanced by the lack of profile photos. The findings advance the understandings of vicarious interaction in online context and guide the design of online communities to promote mental well-being.
Creator
Yue (Nancy) Dai & Jingyuan Shi
Source
https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/27/3/zmac006/6567658
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Date
9 February 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 00 (2022)
Files
Collection
Citation
Yue (Nancy) Dai & Jingyuan Shi, “Vicarious Interactions in Online Support Communities: The Roles of Visual Anonymity and Social Identification,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed October 31, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/8748.