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Rouvinen H, Turunen H, Lindfors P, Kinnunen JM, Rimpelä A, Koivusilta L, Kulmala M, Dadaczynski K, Okan O, Sormunen M. Online health information-seeking behaviour and mental well-being among Finnish higher education students during COVID-19. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:daad143. [PMID: 37935171 PMCID: PMC10635413 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Online health information-seeking behaviour has increased since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020. This study examined whether health-related information on COVID-19 searched on the internet was associated with mental well-being among higher education students. A cross-sectional internet survey was conducted among 18- to 34-year-old students in Finland (N = 2976; mean age 24.61 years and median 24) in the spring of 2020. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric H tests, and a two-way ANOVA. The results indicated that most students (86% of females, 82% of males) used the internet to search for information on COVID-19. Students' self-perceived abilities to determine the relevance of online information on COVID-19 were associated with mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Rouvinen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia Building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannele Turunen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia Building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, PO Box 1711, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pirjo Lindfors
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaana M Kinnunen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Arja Rimpelä
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Elämänaukio 2, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Leena Koivusilta
- Department of Social Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Kulmala
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Keskussairaalankatu 4, Building Liikunta (L), PO Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
- Centre for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Orkan Okan
- Center for Health and Medicine in Society and Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Childhood and Adolescence, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marjorita Sormunen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Htet H, Wichaidit W, Sriplung H, Htet KKK, Chuaychai A, Sottiyotin T, Chongsuvivatwong V. Do Electronic Health Literacy and Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior Mediate the Effects of Socio-Demographic Factors on COVID-19- and Non-communicable Disease-Related Behaviors Among Myanmar Migrants in Southern Thailand? Cureus 2023; 15:e49090. [PMID: 38125220 PMCID: PMC10731563 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Myanmar migrants in Thailand are vulnerable to COVID-19 and non-communicable disease (NCD) risk behaviors, influenced by socio-demographic factors. In the digital age, migrants can seek extensive health information online, and their ability to understand and use electronic health information, which is known as electronic health literacy (e-Health literacy), becomes critical in making decisions about their health behaviors. This study aims to investigate the potential mediating roles of online health information-seeking and e-Health literacy in the associations between socio-demographic factors and COVID-19- and NCD-related behaviors. Methods Our study was conducted in 2022, involving 1,050 Myanmar migrants in two southern Thai cities. Data on socio-demographic factors, e-Health literacy, online health information seeking, COVID-19-related behaviors (adherence to COVID-19 protective behavior (CPB), vaccination), and NCD risk behaviors (smoking, betel chewing, alcohol consumption, substance abuse) were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Results Nearly all migrants received the COVID-19 vaccination in two doses and above, with reasonable good adherence to CPB. Migrants exhibited risky NCD-related behaviors, including current smoking (26.8%), alcohol consumption (17.5%), and betel chewing (25.8%). Approximately three-quarters (73.4%) had a limited e-Health literacy level, and the vast majority did not search for online health information. Their COVID-19- and NCD-related behaviors were directly influenced by socio-demographic factors without the significant mediation roles of e-Health literacy and online health information seeking. Conclusions Myanmar migrant workers in Southern Thailand had reasonably good practices in COVID-19-related behaviors despite engaging in risky NCD-related behaviors. These outcome behaviors were directly influenced by their socio-demographic factors, without the significant mediation roles of e-Health literacy and online health information seeking. The findings suggest that diverse interventions beyond e-Health strategies for future pandemic mitigation and enhancement of their health behaviors are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hein Htet
- Department of Epidemiology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, THA
| | - Wit Wichaidit
- Department of Epidemiology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, THA
| | - Hutcha Sriplung
- Department of Epidemiology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, THA
| | - Kyaw Ko Ko Htet
- Department of Epidemiology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, THA
| | - Aungkana Chuaychai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, THA
| | - Tida Sottiyotin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, THA
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