Feeling good? Paths to psychological well-being: The role of social support in a facebook-based online health community.

OBJECTIVES

This study examines how perceived social support within a Facebook-based online health community is associated with psychological well-being and physical activity among women with diabetes. It distinguishes a direct psychological pathway from a sequential behavioural pathway involving self-efficacy and motivation to engage in healthy behaviours.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

Data were collected from 103 women with diabetes who participated in the "Slow Diabète" program developed by the French Federation of Diabetes and joined its closed Facebook group. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing perceived informational and emotional support, self-efficacy, motivation to engage in healthy behaviours, physical activity, and psychological well-being. The hypothesized relationships were tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

RESULTS

Perceived social support was positively associated with psychological well-being (β = 0.577, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (β = 0.444, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy was positively associated with motivation to engage in healthy behaviours (β = 0.661, p < 0.001), which was, in turn, positively associated with physical activity (β = 0.453, p < 0.001). However, perceived social support was not directly associated with physical activity, and physical activity was not significantly associated with psychological well-being. The model explained 33% of the variance in psychological well-being.

CONCLUSION

The findings distinguish two pathways associated with perceived social support in an online health community: a direct psychological pathway to greater well-being and a sequential behavioural pathway to physical activity through self-efficacy and motivation. Online social interaction alone may therefore contribute to psychological well-being, whereas influencing health behaviours may require program components specifically designed to strengthen self-efficacy and motivation. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the small, female-only, self-selected sample, the cross-sectional design, and the limited measurement of physical activity.