TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge sharing in online smoking cessation communities
T2 - a social capital perspective
AU - Li, Chenglong
AU - Li, Hongxiu
AU - Suomi, Reima
AU - Liu, Yong
N1 - 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.
PY - 2021/8/10
Y1 - 2021/8/10
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Knowledge sharing
KW - Online health community
KW - Smoking cessation
KW - Social capital
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112642568&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/INTR-03-2020-0113
DO - 10.1108/INTR-03-2020-0113
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85112642568
JO - INTERNET RESEARCH
JF - INTERNET RESEARCH
SN - 1066-2243
ER -