Do virtual communities matter forthe social support of patients?Antecedents and effects of virtualrelationships in online communities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether online communities meet their potential ofproviding environments in which social relationships can be readily established to help patients copewith their disease through social support. The paper aims to develop and test a model to examineantecedents of the formation of virtual relationships of cancer patients within virtual communities(VCs) as well as their effects in the form of social assistance.Design/methodology/research – Data were collected from members of virtual patientcommunities in the German-speaking internet through an online survey to which 301 cancerpatients responded. The data were analyzed with partial least square (PLS) structural equationmodeling.Findings – Virtual relationships for patients are established in VCs and play an important role inmeeting patients’ social needs. Important determinants for the formation of virtual relationshipswithin virtual communities for patients are general internet usage intensity (active posting vs lurking)and the perceived disadvantages of CMC. The paper also found that virtual relationships have a strongeffect on virtual support of patients; more than 61 per cent of the variance of perceived socialassistance of cancer patients was explained by cancer-related VCs. Emotional support and informationexchange delivered through these virtual relationships may help patients to better cope with theirillness.[...]