Table 7.

Results of the survival analysis.

Predictor variables	Hazard ratio	SE	P
Has a profile	0.511	0.010	<.001
% Thread starters	0.853	0.010	<.001
Post count exposure	0.343	0.012	<.001
Emotional support exposure	0.665	0.008	<.001
Informational support exposure	1.048	0.012	<.001
Post count exposure × emotional support exposure	0.493	0.011	<.001
Post count exposure × informational support exposure	0.953	0.020	.02

In interpreting the hazard ratio, the comparison consisted of members with no profiles who were exposed to an average number of messages containing average levels of emotional and informational support. The hazard ratio value of .51 for has a profile meant that members with a profile were 49% more likely to continue to participate than those without a profile (100%–[100%*0.51]). Those who started more threads in a week were 15% more likely to continue participating than those who merely responded to others’ posts.