Work

The Indirect Effects of Health Information Seeking on Health Lifestyle: Health Literacy Matters

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: To unpack the process of how health information seeking influences health behaviors, we examined the mediating roles of interpersonal discussion and online information sharing in the associations between health information seeking and healthy lifestyle behaviors and the moderating role of health literacy in the associations among health information seeking, interpersonal discussion, online information sharing, and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Data from a large-scale, representative survey ( N = 916) revealed that interpersonal discussion and online information sharing mediated the associations between health information seeking and healthy lifestyle behaviors. The associations between health information seeking and interpersonal discussion and between health information seeking and online information sharing were stronger for individuals with high health literacy than those with low health literacy. Findings advance the understanding of the influence of health information seeking and provide practical guidance for promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Source: Health Education & Behavior

DOI: 10.1177/10901981241278587

Authors: Wufan Jia, Mengru Sun, Guanxiong Huang, Brett Payton, Wenting Yu

Institutions: City University of Hong Kong, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Language: English

Topic: Health Literacy and Information Accessibility

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: City University of Hong Kong, National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences, National Cancer Institute