Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jun 10, 2020
Date Accepted: Oct 26, 2020
Associations of Health Literacy, Social Media Use, Self-efficacy and Health Information Seeking Intentions among Chinese Social Media Users
ABSTRACT
Background:
Empirical research has demonstrated that people frequently use social media for gathering and sharing online health information. Health literacy, social media use, and health efficacy are important factors that may influence people’s health behaviors online.
Objective:
This study aims to examine the associations between health literacy, health-related social media use, health efficacy and health behavioral intentions online.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of Chinese adults aged 18 and over (N = 453) to examine predictors of health-related behavioral intentions online among Chinese.
Results:
Two moderated median models were constructed. Self-efficacy mediated the effects of health literacy (95% CI: 0.101 to 0.339) and social media use (95% CI: 0.008 to 0.045) on health behavioral intentions on social media. Age moderated the effects of health literacy on self-efficacy (P=.029), while previous experience moderated the effects of social media use on self-efficacy (P<.001).
Conclusions:
Health literacy and health-related social media use influenced health behavioral intentions on social media via their prior effects on self-efficacy in health. The association between health literacy and self-efficacy was stronger among younger respondents, whereas the association between health-related social media use and self-efficacy was stronger among those who previously had positive experiences with health information on social media. Health practitioners should target health self-efficacy among older population and increase positive media experience related to health.
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