INTERNET USE, ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION BEHAVIORS, AND SELF-RATED HEALTH IN CHINA: EVIDENCE FROM THE CHINESE GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEY

Аннотация

This study examines the association between Internet use and self-rated health and investigates the role of online health information behaviors in this relationship. Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS 2021), this study employs ordered logistic regression and bootstrap mediation analysis. The results show that Internet use is positively associated with self-rated health in the unadjusted model, but this direct association becomes weaker after demographic, socioeconomic, and online health information behavior variables are included. Further analysis shows that Internet use is positively associated with both Online Health Information Seeking Behavior (OHISB) and Online Health Information Processing Behavior (OHIPB). However, in the fully adjusted model, OHIPB is positively and significantly associated with self-rated health, whereas OHISB is not. The bootstrap mediation analysis further indicates that the indirect pathway through OHIPB is statistically significant, while the pathway through OHISB is not. These findings highlight the distinction between digital access, health information seeking, and information processing. They suggest that the health value of Internet use depends not only on access to online information, but also on individuals‘ ability to understand, evaluate, and apply such information. Improving the quality and usability of online health information and strengthening digital health literacy may therefore be important for digital health development.