A conversation around a virtual table: Designing and evaluating a theory-informed virtual meeting platform for social connectedness and mental wellbeing

Objective Virtual meeting platforms (VMPs) have expanded in both their applications and features. The ability for VMPs to foster meaningful social connections could be enhanced by drawing on psychological theory. This research examined how VMP aesthetics and designs can be optimised for online conversations amongst peer support groups. Specifically, we implemented theoretical principles (shared attention and self-categorisation into a common group) in the design of a novel VMP, Circles.Care. Method Study 1 qualitatively explored the feasibility of using the Circles.Care VMP for facilitating meaningful conversations, through pre- and post-session interviews of thirteen participants. Study 2 evaluated Circles.Care’s usability and feasibility as a peer support platform for university students. Nineteen participants attended three professionally facilitated Circles sessions over three weeks, completing post-session surveys and providing qualitative feedback. Results In Study 1, participants reported positive experiences of Circles.Care aesthetics and interactional features, including rounded videos being arranged in a circle with a shared background. At the same time, they had mixed feedback about self-facilitating the group discussions. Study 2 found high usability, feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction when using the Circles.Care VMP over time. Across both studies, participants reported that the use of the Circles.Care VMP generally supported the experience of social connectedness when sharing common experiences.Conclusion The findings underline the importance of considering socio-cognitive and social identity processes for successful online communication. They offer guidance for designing scalable digital peer-support interventions and demonstrate how integrating psychological theory into VMP design can support the creation of effective digital environments.