Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions

Ekaterina Uetova; Lucy Hederman; Robert J. Ross; Marily Oppezzo; Dympna O’Sullivan

doi:10.1145/3706599.3719818

Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions

Ekaterina Uetova
, Lucy Hederman
, Robert J. Ross
, Marily Oppezzo
, Dympna O’Sullivan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Online peer support groups (OPSGs) have been widely used in health and wellbeing interventions, but their effectiveness varies, influenced by the level of group engagement and the quality of interactions. This study explores the impact of structured elements, such as prompts and tasks, incorporated into OPSG design on peer support quality and group engagement. We analyse chat messages from two OPSGs aimed at reducing workplace sitting through exercise breaks. Despite identical study designs and similar participant demographics, the two OPSGs exhibited significant differences in group engagement, underscoring the importance of understanding group composition, organic interactions, and other factors influencing engagement. The findings emphasise the need for thoughtful OPSG design, including developing structured elements, to foster communication and improve the quality of interactions. Based on our findings, we discuss strategies to promote supportive exchange, focusing on the role of prompts, group cohesion, and social presence to enhance the effectiveness of OPSGs.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400713958
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3719818
Publication status	Published - 26 Apr 2025
Event	2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2025 - Yokohama, Japan Duration: 26 Apr 2025 → 1 May 2025

Publication series

Name	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2025
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Yokohama
Period	26/04/25 → 1/05/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Healthcare
Mobile Health
Peer Support Groups
Social Media
Social Support
Wellbeing

Access to Document

10.1145/3706599.3719818

Cite this

Uetova, E., Hederman, L., Ross, R. J., Oppezzo, M., & O’Sullivan, D. (2025). Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions. In CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Article 548 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings ). Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3719818

Uetova, Ekaterina ; Hederman, Lucy ; Ross, Robert J. et al. / Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups : Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions. CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2025. (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings ).

@inproceedings{99d62a0ea4ec46a1ba51c4bc78bb0b5d,

title = "Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions",

abstract = "Online peer support groups (OPSGs) have been widely used in health and wellbeing interventions, but their effectiveness varies, influenced by the level of group engagement and the quality of interactions. This study explores the impact of structured elements, such as prompts and tasks, incorporated into OPSG design on peer support quality and group engagement. We analyse chat messages from two OPSGs aimed at reducing workplace sitting through exercise breaks. Despite identical study designs and similar participant demographics, the two OPSGs exhibited significant differences in group engagement, underscoring the importance of understanding group composition, organic interactions, and other factors influencing engagement. The findings emphasise the need for thoughtful OPSG design, including developing structured elements, to foster communication and improve the quality of interactions. Based on our findings, we discuss strategies to promote supportive exchange, focusing on the role of prompts, group cohesion, and social presence to enhance the effectiveness of OPSGs.",

keywords = "Healthcare, Mobile Health, Peer Support Groups, Social Media, Social Support, Wellbeing",

author = "Ekaterina Uetova and Lucy Hederman and Ross, \{Robert J.\} and Marily Oppezzo and Dympna O{\textquoteright}Sullivan",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).; 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2025 ; Conference date: 26-04-2025 Through 01-05-2025",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1145/3706599.3719818",

language = "English",

series = "Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings ",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)",

booktitle = "CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems",

address = "United States",

}

Uetova, E, Hederman, L, Ross, RJ, Oppezzo, M & O’Sullivan, D 2025, Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions. in CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems., 548, Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings , Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2025, Yokohama, Japan, 26/04/25. https://doi.org/10.1145/3706599.3719818

Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions. / Uetova, Ekaterina; Hederman, Lucy; Ross, Robert J. et al.
CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2025. 548 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings ).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups

T2 - 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI EA 2025

AU - Uetova, Ekaterina

AU - Hederman, Lucy

AU - Ross, Robert J.

AU - Oppezzo, Marily

AU - O’Sullivan, Dympna

PY - 2025/4/26

Y1 - 2025/4/26

N2 - Online peer support groups (OPSGs) have been widely used in health and wellbeing interventions, but their effectiveness varies, influenced by the level of group engagement and the quality of interactions. This study explores the impact of structured elements, such as prompts and tasks, incorporated into OPSG design on peer support quality and group engagement. We analyse chat messages from two OPSGs aimed at reducing workplace sitting through exercise breaks. Despite identical study designs and similar participant demographics, the two OPSGs exhibited significant differences in group engagement, underscoring the importance of understanding group composition, organic interactions, and other factors influencing engagement. The findings emphasise the need for thoughtful OPSG design, including developing structured elements, to foster communication and improve the quality of interactions. Based on our findings, we discuss strategies to promote supportive exchange, focusing on the role of prompts, group cohesion, and social presence to enhance the effectiveness of OPSGs.

AB - Online peer support groups (OPSGs) have been widely used in health and wellbeing interventions, but their effectiveness varies, influenced by the level of group engagement and the quality of interactions. This study explores the impact of structured elements, such as prompts and tasks, incorporated into OPSG design on peer support quality and group engagement. We analyse chat messages from two OPSGs aimed at reducing workplace sitting through exercise breaks. Despite identical study designs and similar participant demographics, the two OPSGs exhibited significant differences in group engagement, underscoring the importance of understanding group composition, organic interactions, and other factors influencing engagement. The findings emphasise the need for thoughtful OPSG design, including developing structured elements, to foster communication and improve the quality of interactions. Based on our findings, we discuss strategies to promote supportive exchange, focusing on the role of prompts, group cohesion, and social presence to enhance the effectiveness of OPSGs.

KW - Healthcare

KW - Mobile Health

KW - Peer Support Groups

KW - Social Media

KW - Social Support

KW - Wellbeing

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005791856

U2 - 10.1145/3706599.3719818

DO - 10.1145/3706599.3719818

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105005791856

T3 - Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

BT - CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

PB - Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

Y2 - 26 April 2025 through 1 May 2025

ER -

Uetova E, Hederman L, Ross RJ, Oppezzo M, O’Sullivan D. Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions. In CHI EA 2025 - Extended Abstracts of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). 2025. 548. (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings ). doi: 10.1145/3706599.3719818

Understanding Group Engagement in Online Peer Support Groups: Influence of Structured Elements and Organic Interactions

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this