Title: Explore how perception of emotional blackmail affects users to withdraw from online communities: a role of psychological stress

Authors: Thuy Dung Pham Thi; Nam Tien Duong

Addresses: Institute of Graduate Education, Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), 141-145 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 15, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ' Institute of Graduate Education, Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), 141-145 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 15, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract: This study attempts to analyse the correlation between the perception of emotional blackmail and the tendency to withdraw from the online community, using the psychological stress of the online communities as a moderator and mediator to further analyse the interaction between the three variables. A total of 483 valid questionnaires from internet community members were collected. Besides, the scale items for the three variables were developed. SPSS 20.0 and PROCESS were used for statistical analysis to test all the hypotheses. The findings showed that the perception of emotional blackmail and the psychological stress have a partially significant positive correlation with the tendency to withdraw from the communities. Moreover, psychological stress has a mediating effect but no moderating effect on the perception of emotional blackmail and the tendency to withdraw from the communities. The findings can guide online community operators in understanding user needs for sustainable community development.

Keywords: emotional blackmail; psychological stress; withdrawal tendency; online community; mediating effects; moderating effects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2024.139029

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2024 Vol.19 No.2, pp.158 - 181

Received: 21 Sep 2022
Received in revised form: 20 Apr 2023
Accepted: 08 Aug 2023
Published online: 10 Jun 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article