The Impact of Social Support Strategies on Users’ Credibility Perceptions and Continuous Use Intentions of Academic Social Networking Sites. An Empirical Study

With rapid digital innovation, social support strategies are increasingly embedded in Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNSs) to shape user perceptions and behaviors. However, limited empirical research has examined how these strategies influence users’ credibility perceptions and behavioral intentions. Credibility, a key factor driving participation on ASNSs, remains underexplored in this context. This study investigates the role of seven social support strategies within the Persuasive System Design (PSD) framework. It examines their effect on credibility perceptions, as well as the effects of credibility on perceived persuasiveness and continuous use intentions. Using data from 255 ASNS users and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), results show that several social support strategies significantly shape perceived social learning, which strongly influences credibility perceptions. Additionally, perceived persuasiveness mediates the relationship between perceived credibility and continuous use intention. The findings offer practical insights for designing ASNSs that enhance credibility, persuasiveness, and sustained engagement.