Technical Features of Asynchronous and Synchronous Community Platforms and their Effects on Community Cohesion: A Comparative Study of Forum-based and Chat-based Online Mental Health Communities

Abstract Across online support communities, community cohesion varies by platform and can impact the self-disclosure of members their exchanges social support. Through a comparative study forum chat-based mental health this research examines how technical features both platforms influence affecting communication patterns among members, including evenness communication, speed number participants. This collected four weeks data from 20 forum-based communities in mainland China. Multilevel mediation analyses show that were more cohesive with higher member retention, network connectedness, language conformity. Chat-based facilitated faster greater receiving messages participants which turn fostered cohesion.