Predictors of Acceptance and Rejection of Online Peer Support Groups as a Digital Wellbeing Tool

Abstract

Digital media usage can be problematic; exhibiting symptoms of behavioural addiction such as mood modification, tolerance, conflict, salience, withdrawal symptoms and relapse. Google Digital Wellbeing and Apple Screen Time are examples of an emerging family of tools to help people have a healthier and more conscious relationship with technology. Peer support groups is a known technique for behaviour change and relapse prevention. It can be facilitated online, especially with advanced social networking techniques. Elements of peer support groups are being already embedded in digital wellbeing tools, e.g. peer comparisons, peer commitments, collective usage limit-setting and family time. However, there is a lack of research about the factors influencing people acceptance and rejection of online peer support groups to enhance digital wellbeing. Previous work has qualitatively explored the acceptance and rejection factors to join and participate in such groups. In this paper, we quantitatively study the relationship between culture, personality, self-control, gender, willingness to join the groups and perception of their usefulness, on such acceptance and rejection factors. The qualitative phase included two focus groups and 16 interviews while the quantitative phase consisted of a survey (215 participants). We found a greater number of significant models to predict rejection factors than acceptance factors, although in all cases the amount of variance explained by the models was relatively small. This demonstrates the need to design and, also, introduce such technique in a contextualised and personalised style to avoid rejection and reactance.

Appendix A: Survey Questions Relevant to This Paper

Demographics, Perception of Peer Groups, Personality, and Self-control Questions

• What is the gender you identify yourself with? Male; Female; Prefer not to say.

• What is your main country?

• How do you see the usefulness of online peer support group as a method to help members in managing their wellbeing issues? Very useful; Useful; Moderately useful; Slightly useful; Not at all useful.

• Would you like to join an online peer support group to help you manage a wellbeing issue? Very likely; Likely; Unlikely; Extremely unlikely.

• 10 Personality questions [20]: How well do the following statements describe your personality? I see myself as someone who: is reserved; is generally trusting; tends to be lazy; is relaxed; handles stress well; has few artistic interests; is outgoing, sociable; tends to find fault with others does a thorough job; gets nervous easily; has an active imagination.

• 13 Self-control questions [19]: Using the 1 to 5 scale below, please indicate how much each of the following statements reflects how you typically are: I am good at resisting temptation; I have a hard time breaking bad habits; I am lazy; I say inappropriate things; I do certain things that are bad for me, if they are fun; I refuse things that are bad for me; I wish I had more self-discipline; People would say that I have iron self-discipline; Pleasure and fun sometimes keep me from getting work done; I have trouble concentrating; I am able to work effectively toward long-term goals; Sometimes I can’t stop myself from doing something, even if I know it is wrong; I often act without thinking through all the alternatives.

Questions About Acceptance Factors (5 Points Likert Scale Reflecting Agreement Degree)

[A1] Online peer support groups method is seen by some as an auxiliary mechanism to ease and add more engagement to the management of the wellbeing issue. Accordingly, the following features will increase my acceptance of them: [A1.1a] Awards when achieving behavioural targets, e.g. points, badges, etc. [A1.1b] Awards when making progress towards the behavioural target. [A1.2] Peer comparisons, i.e. see how I and others are performing. [A1.3] Information and graphs how I am progressing to keep me engaged.

[A2] Online peer groups method is seen by some as an awareness tool to help raise awareness and knowledge about the wellbeing issue and level of the problem. Accordingly, the following features will increase my acceptance of them: [A2.1] Self-Monitoring, e.g. showing your hourly, daily and weekly performance and progress indicator. [A2.2] Peer comparisons, e.g. comparing you to other members in the group who have similar profile and level of problem. [A2.3] Awareness on goal setting, e.g. how to set and achieve goals, and how to avoid deviation from the plan you sat to achieve them.

[A3] Online peer support group method is seen by some as an educational platform to learn how to regulate the wellbeing issue and change behavior. Accordingly, the following features will increase my acceptance of them: [A3.1] Environment to learn from a peers, e.g., by sharing real-life stories and successful strategies around the wellbeing issue. [A3.2a] Environment to learn from experienced moderators, e.g. best practice around the wellbeing issue. [A3.2b] Environment where I can learn through acting as a mentor, i.e. when advising other members and when having to moderate the group. [A3.3] Environment to learn how to set up achievable and effective goals and their plans.

[A4] Online peer support groups method is seen by some as a prevention and precautionary mechanism when the wellbeing issue starts to emerge. Accordingly, the following features will increase my acceptance of them: [A4.1] Feedback messages sent by peers about performance and wellbeing goals. [A4.2] Guidance, feedback and information sent by moderators based on performance and achieving wellbeing goals. [A4.3] Steps, restrictions and plans set by an authorised moderators, e.g. game usage limit for compulsive gamers.

[A5] Online peer support groups method is seen by some as a support tool to guide, motivate and encourage the recovery processes of the wellbeing issue. Accordingly, I accept online peer groups as an: [A5.1a] Environment to provide experienced moderators who are able to provide advice and guide members to manage the wellbeing issue. [A5.1b] Environment to suggest alternative activities to replace and distance myself from the negative behaviours and enhance wellbeing. [A5.2] Environment to provide emotional support, e.g. when struggling to follow the healthy behaviour. [A5.3a] Environment to get positive and motivational feedback when performing well. [A5.3b] Environment to get positive and motivational feedback even when failing to achieve targets. [A5.3c] Environment to issue warning feedback when members performance and interaction are not right.

Questions About Rejection Factors (5 Points Likert Scale Reflecting Agreement)

[R1] Online peer groups method is rejected by some as it can be intimidating if used in certain modalities. [R1.1a] I reject a group with negative feedback, e.g. you have repetitively failed in achieving your target, this is the 5th time this month. [R1.1b] I reject a group with harsh feedback, e.g. Your interaction with peers shows anti-social and disruptive patterns. You have been reported for annoying others. [R1.2] I reject a group with harsh penalties e.g. banning from the group for a period of time if I repetitively forget my target.

[R2] Online peer group method is rejected by some when seen as overly judgmental. [R2.1] I reject a group if the group moderator judges my performance and interaction frequently, even if this is for my benefit. [R2.2a] I reject a group if I am judged by peers who are only online contact, e.g. not real-life contacts. [R2.2b] I reject a group if I am judged by online peers who are also real-world contacts. [R2.2c] I reject a group if the judgment online expands to other life aspects by peers who are real-world contacts.

[R3] Peer group is rejected when seen as a medium for a loose and unmanaged interaction. [R3.1a] I reject a group with a weak moderator, e.g. unable to stop or ban members who are not adhering to the group norms. [R3.1b] I reject a group which allows a loose and relaxed rules e.g. accepting conversations and interactions that are not related to the wellbeing issue. [R3.2] I reject a group with a large size as it may not feel as a coherent group.

[R4] Online peer support group method is rejected when the membership protocol is unclear. Please indicate your opinion of the following: [R4.1a] I reject a group which allows friends in real-life to join. [R4.1b] I reject a group which allows family members to join. [R4.2a] I reject a group when members can leave the group anytime without giving notice and explanation. [R4.2a] I reject a group when there are conditions to exit the group, e.g. to tell the moderator in advance.