Cycles of support: A computational approach to online infertility-related interactions in China

Infertility, particularly among individuals undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), is commonly accosiated with substantial psychological stress. This study examines interactions in a Chinese online support group (OSG) focused on IVF-related discussions, with particular attention to how textual and emotional features reflect variations across treatment stages and user roles (posters vs. commenters). Using the Chinese Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count Dictionary (CLIWC) 2015 and statistical analysis, we identified 25 significant markers from a dataset of 1.64 million Chinese characters. Notably, personal pronouns in frequency peaked during treatment, with informal language and family-related terms more prevalent before and after. Emotionally, expressions shifted from negative pre-treatment to more positive in later stages. In role-specific practices, posters mainly engage in self-disclosure and help-seeking during treatment, whereas commenters provide empathy and validation in the initial stage. These findings highlight the co-construction of support and identity in Chinese infertility discourse, revealing how online communities facilitate emotional coping and social connectedness throughout IVF treatment cycles.