Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping communication in Online Health Communities (OHCs), yet its impacts remain fragmented across disciplines. This study presents a systematic literature review to consolidate knowledge on how AI influences interpersonal interaction in OHCs. A structured search and thematic analysis identified five communicative roles of AI: enabling engagement and self-expression, fostering trust and transparency, facilitating social support, improving health outcomes, and enhancing empowerment. The findings reveal AI’s dual role: it can promote empathy, self-disclosure, and participation, while also constraining authenticity and eroding trust through over-scaffolding or opaque decision processes. This review advances information systems scholarship by integrating evidence on AI-mediated communication and clarifying its social consequences. Practically, it provides design and policy insights for building transparent, inclusive, and responsible AI systems that strengthen participation and resilience in digital health communities.

Download

Share

COinS