Are Social Networking Sites Making Health Behavior Change Interventions More Effective? A Meta-Analytic Review

References

• * References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the meta-analysis
   Google Scholar
• Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50 (2), 179–211. doi:10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Andreasen, A. (1994). Social marketing: Definition and domain. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 13 (1), 108–114.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
   Google Scholar
• *Baskerville, N. B., Azagba, S., Norman, C., McKeown, K., & Brown, K. S. (2015). Effect of a digital social media campaign on young adult smoking cessation. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 1–10. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntv119
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Behrstock-Sherratt, E., & Coggshall, J. G. (2010). Realizing the promise of Generation Y. Educational Leadership, 67 (8), 28–34.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Berger, J. (2013). Contagious: Why things catch on. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
   Google Scholar
• BI Intelligence. (2015, August 25). Women dominate most of social media, but men are more active on these two networks. The Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/demographics-of-social-media-by-gender-8-2015
   Google Scholar
• Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009). Introduction to meta-analysis. Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons.
   Google Scholar
• Boyd, D., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13 (1), 210–230. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Brindal, E., Freyne, J., Saunders, I., Berkovsky, S., Smith, G., & Noakes, M. (2012). Features predicting weight loss in overweight or obese participants in a web-based intervention: Randomized trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14 (6), e173. doi:10.2196/jmir.2156.
   Google Scholar
• *Bull, S. S., Levine, D. K., Black, S. R., Schmiege, S. J., & Santelli, J. (2012). Social media–delivered sexual health intervention: A cluster randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43 (5), 467–474. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2012.07.022
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Cavallo, D. N., Tate, D. F., Ries, A. V., Brown, J. D., DeVellis, R. F., & Ammerman, A. S. (2012). A social media–based physical activity intervention: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43 (5), 527–532. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2012.07.019
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Cobb, N. K., & Poirier, J. (2014). Effectiveness of a multimodal online well-being intervention: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46 (1), 41–48. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.08.018
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
   Google Scholar
• Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.98.2.310
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cooper, H. M., Hedges, L. V., & Valentine, J. C. (Eds.). (2009). The handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.
   Google Scholar
• Danaher, B. G., & Seeley, J. R. (2009). Methodological issues in research on web-based behavioral interventions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 38 (1), 28–39. doi:10.1007/s12160-009-9129-0
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• De Bruyn, A., & Lilien, G. L. (2008). A multi-stage model of word-of-mouth influence through viral marketing. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 25 (3), 151–163. doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2008.03.004
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Duggan, M., Ellison, N. B., Lampe, C., Lenhart, A., & Madden, M. (2015, January 9). Demographics of key social networking platforms. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/09/demographics-of-key-social-networking-platforms-2
   Google Scholar
• Eysenbach, G. (2005). The law of attrition. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 7 (1), e11. doi:10.2196/jmir.7.1.e11
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Falk, A., & Heckman, J. (2009). Lab experiments are a major source of knowledge in the social sciences. Science, 326 (5952), 535–538. doi:10.1126/science.1168244
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7 (2), 117–140. doi:10.1177/001872675400700202
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (2011). Predicting and changing behavior: The reasoned action approach. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
   Google Scholar
• Floyd, R. L., Sobell, M., Velasquez, M. M., Ingersoll, K., Nettleman, M., Sobell, L., & #X0026; Project CHOICES Efficacy Study Group. (2007). Preventing alcohol-exposed pregnancies: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 32 (1), 1–10.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Foster, D., Linehan, C., Kirman, B., Lawson, S., & James, G. (2010, October). Motivating physical activity at work: Using persuasive social media for competitive step counting. In Proceedings of the 14th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments (pp. 111–116). doi:10.1145/1930488.1930510
   Google Scholar
• Fox, S. (2011). The social life of health information. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/05/12/the-social-life-of-health-information-2011/
   Google Scholar
• *Freyne, J., Berkovsky, S., Kimani, S., Baghaei, N., & Brindal, E. (2010, October). Improving health information access through social networking. Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS), 2010 IEEE 23rd International Symposium (pp. 334–339). doi:10.1109/CBMS.2010.6042666
   Google Scholar
• Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds). (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
   Google Scholar
• Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985). Statistical methods for meta-analysis. Orlando, FL: Academic.
   Google Scholar
• Higgins, J. P., Thompson, S. G., Deeks, J. J., & Altman, D. G. (2003). Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses. BMJ, 327 (7414), 557–560. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• House, J. S. (1981). Work stress and social support. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
   Google Scholar
• Hughes, A. (2010). Using social media platforms to amplify public health message: An examination of principles and best practices. Retrieved from http://smexchange.ogilvypr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/OW_SM_WhitePaper.pdf
   Google Scholar
• Hunter, J. E., & Schmidt, F. L. (2004). Methods of meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
   Google Scholar
• Kohl, L. F., Crutzen, R., & de Vries, N. K. (2013). Online prevention aimed at lifestyle behaviors: A systematic review of reviews. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15 (7), e146. doi:10.2196/jmir.2665
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Kuwata, S., Taniguchi, S. I., Kato, A., Inoue, K., Yamamoto, N., Ohkura, T., & Kondoh, H. (2010). Metaboli-Net: Online groupware system providing counseling guidance for patients with metabolic syndrome. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 156, 65–70.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Laranjo, L., Arguel, A., Neves, A. L., Gallagher, A. M., Kaplan, R., Mortimer, N., … Lau, A. Y. (2015). The influence of social networking sites on health behavior change: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 22 (1), 243–256.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Livingston, J. D., Cianfrone, M., Korf-Uzan, K., & Coniglio, C. (2014). Another time point, a different story: One year effects of a social media intervention on the attitudes of young people towards mental health issues. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49 (6), 985–990. doi:10.1007/s00127-013-0815-7
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Livingston, J. D., Tugwell, A., Korf-Uzan, K., Cianfrone, M., & Coniglio, C. (2013). Evaluation of a campaign to improve awareness and attitudes of young people towards mental health issues. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48 (6), 965–973. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0617-3
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Lustria, M., Brown, L., & Davis, R. (2007, November). 10 Years of consumer health informatics: What have we learned about how to design successful web-based interventions? Paper presented at the National Communication Association annual conference, Chicago, IL.
   Google Scholar
• *Mackenzie, K., Goyder, E., & Eves, F. (2015). Acceptability and feasibility of a low-cost, theory-based and co-produced intervention to reduce workplace sitting time in desk-based university employees. BMC Public Health, 15 (1), 1–13. doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2635-z
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Maher, C., Ferguson, M., Vandelanotte, C., Plotnikoff, R., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Thomas, S., … Olds, T. (2015). A web-based, social networking physical activity intervention for insufficiently active adults delivered via Facebook app: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17 (7), e174. doi:10.2196/jmir.4086
   Google Scholar
• Maher, C. A., Lewis, L. K., Ferrar, K., Marshall, S., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., & Vandelanotte, C. (2014). Are health behavior change interventions that use online social networks effective? A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16 (2), e40. doi:10.2196/jmir.2952
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Maibach, E. W., Rothschild, M. L., & Novelli, W. D. (2002). Social marketing. In K. Glanz, B. K. Rimer, & F. M. Lewis (Eds.), Health behavior and health education (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
   Google Scholar
• McGowan, B. S., Wasko, M., Vartabedian, B. S., Miller, R. S., Freiherr, D. D., & Abdolrasulnia, M. (2012). Understanding the factors that influence the adoption and meaningful use of social media by physicians to share medical information. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14 (5), e117. doi:10.2196/jmir.2138
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Morgan, A. J., Jorm, A. F., & Mackinnon, A. J. (2013). Internet-based recruitment to a depression prevention intervention: Lessons from the Mood Memos study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15 (2), e31. doi:10.2196/jmir.2262.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Muntaner-Mas, A., Vidal-Conti, J., Borras, P. A., Ortega, F. B., & Palou, P. (2017). Effects of a Whatsapp-delivered physical activity intervention to enhance health-related physical fitness components and cardiovascular disease risk factors in older adults. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 57 (1–2), 90–102. doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.16.05918-1
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• *Napolitano, M. A., Hayes, S., Bennett, G. G., Ives, A. K., & Foster, G. D. (2013). Using Facebook and text messaging to deliver a weight loss program to college students. Obesity, 21 (1), 25–31. doi:10.1038/oby.2012.107
   Google Scholar
• Neiger, B. L., Thackeray, R., Van Wagenen, S. A., Hanson, C. L., West, J. H., Barnes, M. D., & Fagen, M. C. (2012). Use of social media in health promotion purposes, key performance indicators, and evaluation metrics. Health Promotion Practice, 13 (2), 159–164. doi:10.1177/1524839911433467
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Noar, S. M. (2006). In pursuit of cumulative knowledge in health communication: The role of meta-analysis. Health Communication, 20 (2), 169–175. doi:10.1207/s15327027hc2002_8
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Noar, S. M., Benac, C. N., & Harris, M. S. (2007). Does tailoring matter? Meta-analytic review of tailored print health behavior change interventions. Psychological Bulletin, 133 (4), 673. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.4.673
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Pechmann, C., Pan, L., Delucchi, K., Lakon, C. M., & Prochaska, J. J. (2015). Development of a Twitter-based intervention for smoking cessation that encourages high-quality social media interactions via automessages. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17, 2. doi:10.2196/jmir.3772
   Google Scholar
• Pew Research Center. (2014). Social networking fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/
   Google Scholar
• Poirier, J., & Cobb, N. K. (2012). Social influence as a driver of engagement in a web-based health intervention. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14 (1), e36. doi:10.2196/jmir.1957
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Prochaska, J. O., DiClemente, C. C., & Norcross, J. C. (1992). In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors. American Psychologist, 47 (9), 1102. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.47.9.1102
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• *Ramo, D. E., Thrul, J., Chavez, K., Delucchi, K. L., & Prochaska, J. J. (2015). Feasibility and quit rates of the tobacco status project: A Facebook smoking cessation intervention for young adults. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17 (12), e291. doi:10.2196/jmir.5209
   Google Scholar
• Raudenbush, S. W. (2009). Analyzing effect sizes: Random-effects models. In B. S. Cooper, L. V. Hedges, & J. C. Valentine (Eds.), The handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis (pp. 295–316). New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.
   Google Scholar
• Richardson, A., Graham, A. L., Cobb, N., Xiao, H., Mushro, A., Abrams, D., & Vallone, D. (2013). Engagement promotes abstinence in a web-based cessation intervention: Cohort study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15 (1), e14. doi:10.2196/jmir.2277
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Rosenthal, R. (1991). Meta-analytic procedures for social research (Rev. ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
   Google Scholar
• *Rote, A. E., Klos, L. A., Brondino, M. J., Harley, A. E., & Swartz, A. M. (2015). The efficacy of a walking intervention using social media to increase physical activity: A randomized trial. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 12 (6 Suppl 1), S18–25. doi:10.1123/jpah.2014-0279
   Google Scholar
• Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (1999). Comparison of three meta-analysis methods revisited: An analysis of Johnson, Mullen, and Salas (1995). Journal of Applied Psychology, 84 (1), 144–148. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.84.1.144
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Snyder, L. B., Hamilton, M. A., Mitchell, E. W., Kiwanuka-Tondo, J., Fleming-Milici, F., & Proctor, D. (2004). A meta-analysis of the effect of mediated health communication campaigns on behavior change in the United States. Journal of Health Communication, 9(S1), 71–96. doi:10.1080/10810730490271548
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Statista (2016). Leading social networks worldwide as of April 2016, ranked by number of active users (in millions). Retrieved from http://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/
   Google Scholar
• Stephenson, M. T., Holbert, R. L., & Zimmerman, R. S. (2006). On the use of structural equation modeling in health communication research. Health Communication, 20 (2), 159–167. doi:10.1207/s15327027hc2002_7
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Stoddard, J., Augustson, E., & Moser, R. (2008). Effect of adding a virtual community (bulletin board) to smokefree. gov: Randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10 (5), e53. doi:10.2196/jmir.1124
   Google Scholar
• Sutton, A. J. (2009). Publication bias. In B. S. Cooper, L. V. Hedges, & J. C. Valentine (Eds.), The handbook of research synthesis and meta-analysis (pp. 435–452). New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.
   Google Scholar
• Thackeray, R., Neiger, B. L., Hanson, C. L., & McKenzie, J. F. (2008). Enhancing promotional strategies within social marketing programs: Use of Web 2.0 social media. Health Promotion Practice, 9 (4), 338–343. doi:10.1177/1524839908325335
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Thalheimer, W., & Cook, S. (2002). How to calculate effect sizes from published research: A simplified methodology. Work-Learning Research, 1–9. Retrieved from http://www.bwgriffin.com/gsu/courses/edur9131/content/Effect_Sizes_pdf5.pdf
   Google Scholar
• *Turner-McGrievy, G., & Tate, D. (2011). Tweets, Apps, and Pods: Results of the 6-month mobile Pounds Off Digitally (Mobile POD) randomized weight-loss intervention among adults. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 13 (4), e120. doi:10.2196/jmir.1841.
   Google Scholar
• *Valle, C. G., Tate, D. F., Mayer, D. K., Allicock, M., & Cai, J. (2013). A randomized trial of a Facebook-based physical activity intervention for young adult cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 7 (3), 355–368. doi:10.1007/s11764-013-0279-5
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Van Mierlo, T., Voci, S., Lee, S., Fournier, R., & Selby, P. (2012). Superusers in social networks for smoking cessation: Analysis of demographic characteristics and posting behavior from the Canadian Cancer Society’s smokers’ helpline online and StopSmokingCenter. net. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14 (3), e66. doi:10.2196/jmir.1854
   Google Scholar
• Vyas, A. N., Landry, M., Schnider, M., Rojas, A. M., & Wood, S. F. (2012). Public health interventions: Reaching Latino adolescents via short message service and social media. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14 (4), e99. doi:10.2196/jmir.1854
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Yang, Q., & Beatty, M. (2016). A meta-analytic review of health information credibility: Belief in physicians or belief in peers? Health Information Management Journal, 45 (2), 80–89. doi:10.1177/1833358316639432
   Google Scholar
• *Young, S. D., Cumberland, W. G., Nianogo, R., Menacho, L. A., Galea, J. T., & Coates, T. (2015). The HOPE social media intervention for global HIV prevention in Peru: A cluster randomised controlled trial. The Lancet HIV, 2 (1), e27–e32. doi:10.1016/S2352-3018(14)00006-X
   Google Scholar
• *Zhang, J., Brackbill, D., Yang, S., & Centola, D. (2015). Efficacy and causal mechanism of an online social media intervention to increase physical activity: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 651–657. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.08.005
   PubMedGoogle Scholar