This study investigates factors that motivate users of social network sites SNS to write responses to support-seeking posts on SNS. An online experiment with participants revealed that participants reported lower support provision efficacy and impression management efficacy when responding to a negative post than a positive post. Message valence and efficacy perceptions impacted word count and emotion words in their responses. Theoretical and pragmatic implications for supportive communication and computer-mediated communication were discussed.
Social network sites SNS have become an increasingly a popular venue for seeking and providing social support e. The question of what factors impact whether and how viewers of a support-seeking message provide support in SNS contexts, therefore, become crucial in discussing how to promote supportive communication on SNS Li et al.
Prior research identified several factors that can influence the likelihood or quality of support-provision in SNS settings e. To date, very limited research attention has been paid to examining message features of online supportive communication Li et al. Given that supportive communication via SNS is typically initiated by support-seeking i. To date, social support research has focused on the study of social support in situations where individuals experience negative and often times distressing events e.
Most social support research seems to have the underlying assumption that individuals only need support when they are experiencing stress that is often caused by undesirable situations Sarason et al. However, both theory and practice suggest that the concept of social support should be extended to include both positive and negative situations.
In early social support research, the optimal matching model of social support Cutrona and Russell, noted that positive events such as getting married and receiving promotions can also create stress to individuals and put them in need of social support. Even when positive events do not generate stress to the individual, the individual may still need emotional and esteem support from friends and family, such as compliments and praise.
