Exploring the impact of Internet and media sources exposure on self-care behavior: mediating the role of health anxiety, literacy and information-seeking behavior

Abstract

PurposeQuality of life is dependent on a healthy lifestyle and the self-care behavior of individuals. The study's purpose is to find out the determinants of individuals' self-care behavior. As such, self-care behavior is influenced by several factors that include individual knowledge, available information sources and their use, information-seeking related skills and cognitive state.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research design followed using a questionnaire-based survey method. A total of 384 responses from the Pakistani public were collected using the convenience sampling technique. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed for examining the possible link between the variables.FindingsHealth literacy, Internet and social media use, and health information-seeking behavior had a direct/indirect positive impact on self-care behavior, but health anxiety had a negative impact. Health literacy and health information-seeking behavior positively mediated the relationship among Internet and social media use health anxiety and self-care.Research limitations/implicationsImproving health literacy appears to be key to supporting better self-care, but it is an exploratory study, more research is required to confirm these findings. Policymakers, health professionals and information professionals should work together to improve health literacy and support informed self-care among the population.Originality/valueThus far, no previous study has examined the collective role of social media exposure, health anxiety, health literacy and health information-seeking behavior as predictors of self-care behavior. Although self-care behavior among the general population might be different compared to chronic patients, only few studies have examined the former as a unit of analysis.

Unveiling the Influence of TikTok Dependency on University Students’ Post-COVID-19 Health Protective Behavior

“…When they obtain more useful information related to their health, they may pay more attention to their health and adopt health preventive behavior. This finding aligns with previous research highlighting the importance of health information-seeking behaviors in the relationship between social media use and individuals' health protective behavior (Soroya, Rehman & Faiola, 2023;Li et al, 2023).…”

“…For example, when people have COVID-19 symptoms, they are more inclined to seek online health information which in turn also increases their health anxiety (Li et al, 2023). Similar research has also mentioned that frequent social media use may lead to health information-seeking behavior while it also results in individuals' higher self-care behavior (Soroya, Rehman & Faiola, 2023). In this study, TikTok dependency is expected to positively influence university students' health information seeking behavior while seeking health information on TikTok may also influence their post-COVID-19 health-protective behavior.…”