Relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health

Abstract

This study aimed to explore relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health. Participants were from representative samples between 15 and 80 years of age from seven different European countries. Two different survey datasets were used: (i) eHealth trends (eHT; N = 7934) and (ii) the European social survey (ESS2; N = 11248). Internet users who had used the Internet for health purposes were compared with Internet users who had not used it for health purposes. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the relationships between SES, Internet use, social support and subjective health. Use of other media was compared to Internet use in relation to social support and subjective health. Internet use was found to be more closely related to social support and subjective health than use of other media. Internet use was also found to be a plausible mediator between SES and subjective health, especially through interacting with social support.

Problematic Internet use and physical health

“…At this point, a conclusion that seems more soundly supported by the data reported here, and elsewhere (Kelley & Gruber, 2010;Niemz et al, 2005;Wangberg et al, 2007), is that any relationship between the Internet and physical health occurs only when Internet usage is problematic for the individual, that is, becomes obsessive, results in neglecting self or social ties, or results in loss of control over one's online usage patterns. In other words, mere use of the Internet, per se, even if the daily time spent online is relatively high, is not itself strongly related to any physical health concerns individuals may experience.…”

“…Demetrovics et al (2008) however, did report that, overall, while time spent online is not a factor, time spent online for non-work purposes is a relevant predictor of problematic Internet use. Wangberg et al (2007) utilizing a large sample from seven European countries reported some limited information regarding Internet use and a simple, one-question assessment of health ("How is your health in general?") indicating that Internet users reported slightly higher health scores compared to non-Internet users.…”

Can differences in physical activity by socio-economic status in European adolescents be explained by differences in psychosocial correlates? A mediation analysis within the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study

“…This test consists of different stages: (i) the action theory tests (27) which estimate the association between the SES indicators and the potential mediators (the different correlates of PA), resulting in a coefficients; (ii) the conceptual theory tests (27) which estimate the association between the potential mediators and the PA outcome, resulting in b coefficients for the mediators; (iii) the calculation of the product of the two coefficients (ab), representing the mediating effect; and (iv) the calculation of dividing ab by its standard error to assess the statistical significance of the mediating role. For the calculation of the standard error, the Sobel test (22,28) was used: SE ab 5 O(a 2 SE b 2 1b 2 SE a 2 ). The obtained value of ab/SE ab was then compared to a standard normal distribution (27) .…”

Social commerce: The transfer of power from sellers to buyers

“…Current literature on social support shows how SNSs are likely to provide online social support (Ballantine & Stephenson, 2011;Crocker & Canevello, 2008;Hwang et al, 2010;Obst & Stafurik, 2010;Teoh, Chia, & Mohanraj, 2009;Wangberg et al, 2008;Wellman et al, 1996). Therefore, online social support is likely to be more productive through social involvement and improved online communication than offline social support (Kraut et al, 2002).…”