Understanding older adults' intention to share health information on social media

The role of health belief and information processing

Bibliographic Data

ID12420732
AuthorsLili Shang (0000-0003-4389-131X, Renmin University of China, corresponding author), Junjie Zhou (0000-0002-7996-9548, Shantou University), Meiyun Zuo (0000-0002-5281-5071, Renmin University of China)
Year2020
Volume31
Issue1
Pages100-122
Publication date2020-07-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternet Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1066-2243 • E-ISSN: 2054-5657
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/intr-12-2019-0512
OpenAlexW3045887898
LanguageEN
Citations received28
References cited70

Purpose Social media greatly enhances public access to health information and thus attracts older adults who tend to attach more importance to their health. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to the likelihood of older adults' health information sharing on social media. Design/methodology/approach By drawing on health belief (HBM) and elaboration likelihood models (ELM), a novel conceptual model integrating older adults' health belief and information processing is established to uncover the factors. Online survey data from 290 Chinese older adult users of WeChat, the most popular social media platform in China, were collected to test the research model. Findings As health belief-related variables, perceived susceptibility is positively associated with health information-sharing intention (HISI), while perceived severity negatively influences HISI, which is contrary to prior findings. For information processing, the positive impacts of argument quality and source credibility on HISI are fully mediated by perceived usefulness. Originality/value This study is one of the first studies to explore the initiative use of information and communication technology among older adults. The new theoretical perspective proposed herein considers health belief and information processing perspectives in a complementary manner and can facilitate an overall analysis of the factors influencing older adults' HISI in a social media context. This study also furthers understandings of the ELM and expands the theory of HBM to take the age of decision makers into account

Context (archaeology · Credibility · Elaboration likelihood model · Health belief model · Health communication · Health promotion · Information sharing · Persuasion · Public health · Social media · Source credibility · Computer Science · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Knowledge Management and Sharing · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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