A Revolutionary Road: An Analysis of Persons Living With Hepatitis B in China

Abstract

This study explores the interactions of the environmental barriers, coping behaviors, and personal characteristics of persons living with hepatitis B in China within the framework of Bandura's social cognitive theory. An analysis of 1,607 messages from an online support group revealed multiple barriers including institutional discrimination, relationship difficulty, alcohol-drinking social norm, limitations of the health care system and pharmaceutical market, and financial constraints. Major coping behaviors were identified as seeking health and reproductive advice, avoiding disclosure and discrimination, protecting legal rights, preventing transmission, and outreaching support behaviors. At the intrapersonal level, a combatant identity was constructed in the online community. The combatant identity was significantly associated with high self-efficacy, positive emotions, and outreaching support behaviors, but it was not significantly associated with environmental barriers. The constructed online combatant identity appeared to be support-focused instead of politically oriented.

Acknowledgments

The authors express gratitude to Dr. Dale Hample, associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Maryland, for his insights, genuine support, and generous help with the preparation of this article. We thank our reviewers for expanding the horizon of this study.

Notes

^a This category excludes parent-to-child transmission.

^b This category includes parent-to-child transmission (103 messages).

^a This category includes concerns about parent-to-child transmission (108 messages).

^b This category does not include concerns about parent-to-child transmission.