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Disentangling social support mobilization via online neighborhood networks
Author(s) -
De Meulenaere Jonas,
Baccarne Bastiaan,
Courtois Cédric,
Ponnet Koen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22474
Subject(s) - bridging (networking) , normative , online and offline , sense of community , interpersonal ties , context (archaeology) , social media , online community , social psychology , social support , mobilization , social exchange theory , sociology , psychology , underpinning , social mobilization , computer science , political science , world wide web , politics , geography , computer security , engineering , civil engineering , archaeology , law , operating system
This paper proposes and tests a theoretical model to investigate the mechanism underpinning local social support exchange via online neighborhood networks (ONNs). We drew on community psychology, social support, and social media literature and used a survey conducted in the Dutch‐speaking part of Belgium among 561 ONN users ( n females = 409; 72.9%) between 18 and 82 years old ( M age = 43.73; SD age = 15.37). We found that engaging in online neighboring behaviors was associated to both online and offline neighborhood sense of community. Subsequently, these provide access to perceived local social support and the intention to mobilize local social support online. The latter was predominantly explained via the path along online sense of community. ONNs facilitate local bridging behavior, connecting otherwise distinct local networks and ties. At the same time, online neighboring behaviors provide the normative context that supports the exchange process.