The Use of Online Support Groups to Seek Information about Chronic Illness: Applying the Theory of Motivated Information Management

The growing number of adults living with chronic illness, combined with the increased availability of illness-specific online support groups, is changing the way individuals seek information about their chronic illnesses. This study utilized elements of the theory of motivated information management (TMIM) to examine how individuals decide to seek information about their chronic illness from online support groups. Adults with chronic illness who had visited at least one online support group in the last six months completed an online survey. Structural equation model findings revealed that, although uncertainty discrepancy about a chronic illness did not predict negative emotional response, both target efficacy and communication efficacy were positively related to information-seeking. Findings aid in explaining specific processes individuals go through when deciding to visit online support groups to gather information about their chronic illnesse, but cannot conclusively support TMIM in this context.