This study integrates the spiral of silence (SoS) theory and theory of planned behavior (TPB) by examining Facebook users' opinion expression avoidance, the reactions to dissenting views without revealing one's true opinion, in the context of political discussions. The present integrative approach provides a more comprehensive framework that expands our understanding of online opinion expression and withdrawal.,A cross-sectional online survey was employed, which rendered 348 valid responses from US college students (61.5% female; average age 19.11) recruited from a northeastern university.,The results categorized two sets of opinion avoidance strategies from six Facebook features. The intention to adopt “proactive avoidance strategies” (filtering out unwanted information) is positively related to descriptive norms and perceived self-efficacy, but negatively related to fear of isolation and perceived control of the urge to debate. Regarding the intention to employ “reactive avoidance strategies” (less obtrusive articulations), fear of isolation and attitudes toward opinion expression avoidance are positive determinants, whereas perceived control of the urge to debate again exerts a negative influence.,This study examines the growing variety of features that users adopt to avoid expressing their true opinion in reacting to dissenting views, updating our understanding of opinion circumvention in social media environment. As one of the few theoretically driven empirical investigations of SoS theory and TPB, the findings not only elucidate the significance of perceived behavioral control as the common ground in association with user adoption intention but also identify distinct qualities of the two sets of strategies that affect the likelihood of adoption. That is, proactive avoidance is more susceptible to normative influences, while reactive avoidance reflects user attitude and belief. This theoretical integration also helps identify diverse levels of intentions to strategically avoid opinion expression influenced by fear of isolation.

中文翻译：

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保持沉默的替代方案：探索在 Facebook 上讨论政治的意见表达回避策略

本研究通过在政治讨论的背景下检查 Facebook 用户的意见表达回避、对不同意见的反应而不透露自己的真实意见，整合了沉默螺旋 (SoS) 理论和计划行为理论 (TPB)。目前的综合方法提供了一个更全面的框架，扩大了我们对在线意见表达和撤回的理解。,采用了一项横断面在线调查，从美国大学生（61.5% 女性；平均年龄 19.11）中获得了 348 份有效回答一所东北大学。,结果对来自六个 Facebook 功能的两组意见回避策略进行了分类。采用“主动回避策略”（过滤掉不需要的信息）的意图与描述性规范和自我效能感呈正相关，但与对孤立的恐惧和对辩论冲动的感知控制呈负相关。关于采用“反应性回避策略”（不那么突兀的表达）的意图，对孤立的恐惧和对避免意见表达的态度是积极的决定因素，而对再次辩论冲动的感知控制则产生负面影响。,本研究考察了日益增长的多样性用户为避免在对不同意见作出反应时表达真实意见而采用的功能，更新了我们对社交媒体环境中意见规避的理解。作为为数不多的对 SoS 理论和 TPB 进行理论驱动的实证研究之一，研究结果不仅阐明了感知行为控制作为与用户采用意图相关的共同点的重要性，而且还确定了影响采用可能性的两组策略的不同品质。也就是说，主动回避更容易受到规范影响，而被动回避反映了用户的态度和信念。这种理论整合还有助于识别不同层次的意图，以战略性地避免受到孤立恐惧影响的意见表达。而反应性回避则反映了用户的态度和信念。这种理论整合还有助于识别不同层次的意图，以战略性地避免受到孤立恐惧影响的意见表达。而反应性回避则反映了用户的态度和信念。这种理论整合还有助于识别不同层次的意图，以战略性地避免受到孤立恐惧影响的意见表达。