Knowledge sharing in online smoking cessation communities: a social capital perspective

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Journal Title

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Volume Title

A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

Date

2022

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Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

28

Series

Internet Research, Volume 32, issue 7, pp. 111-138

Abstract

Purpose: Although knowledge sharing in online communities has been studied for many years, little is known about the determinants for individuals' knowledge sharing in online health communities (OHCs) surrounding smoking cessation. Examining the determinants of knowledge sharing in such OHCs from the social capital perspective may prove particularly enlightening. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire-based online user survey of two smoking cessation OHCs, one based in Finland and one based in China, was performed. Performing data analysis with partial least squares (SmartPLS 3.0), the authors developed a model conceptualizing the structural, cognitive and relational dimensions of social capital as drivers for knowledge sharing in smoking cessation OHCs, with users' stage in giving up smoking as a moderator. Findings: The results show that structural capital (social ties) and relational capital (reciprocity) are important motivators behind knowledge sharing in smoking cessation OHCs, and the authors found a moderating effect of the stage in quitting on the antecedents' relationship with knowledge sharing in these OHCs. Originality/value: The study enriches understanding of knowledge sharing in smoking cessation OHCs, contributing to theory and identifying practical implications for such groups' administration.

Description

Funding Information: The authors are grateful to the editor and the anonymous referees for their insightful comments. This work is supported by the grant from the Finnish Foundation for Economic Education (Liikesivistysrahasto) (No. 16-9095). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, Chenglong Li, Hongxiu Li, Reima Suomi and Yong Liu.

Keywords

Knowledge sharing, Online health community, Smoking cessation, Social capital

Other note

Citation

Li, C, Li, H, Suomi, R & Liu, Y 2022, ' Knowledge sharing in online smoking cessation communities : a social capital perspective ', Internet Research, vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 111-138 . https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-03-2020-0113