The structure of support: Mapping network evolution in an online support group

作者：

Highlights：

• Prior work on OSG does not consider the interplay between structure and technology.

• Social network theory and analysis are used to map the emergent OSG structure.

• OSG contains a dual network structure.

• OSG structure supports of a variety of relationships and levels of participation.

• Four types of structural support include: direct, indirect, relational, functional.

摘要

•Prior work on OSG does not consider the interplay between structure and technology.•Social network theory and analysis are used to map the emergent OSG structure.•OSG contains a dual network structure.•OSG structure supports of a variety of relationships and levels of participation.•Four types of structural support include: direct, indirect, relational, functional.

论文关键词：Online social support,Social networks,CMC

论文评审过程：Received 27 February 2016, Revised 15 June 2016, Accepted 8 July 2016, Available online 17 July 2016, Version of Record 17 July 2016.

论文官网地址：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.07.006