Exploring Gender-Specific Nuances in Social Media Health Information Sharing

An Application of the SOR Framework in eHealth Research

Bibliographic Data

ID21616769
AuthorsGayle Prybutok (0000-0001-8637-780X, University of North Texas), Xiaotong Liu (0000-0003-1141-9184, California State University, corresponding author), Anh Ta (0000-0001-6446-5526, University of Nebraska at Omaha), Victor Prybutok (0000-0003-3810-9039, University of North Texas)
Year2026
Volume41
Issue8
Pages1359-1375
Publication date2026-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1041-0236 • E-ISSN: 1532-7027
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10410236.2025.2564933
PMID40993040
OpenAlexW4414521957
LanguageEN
References cited81

This study uniquely integrates both personal and environmental factors within the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework to investigate the factors influencing attitudes toward social media health behavior (SMHB) and health information sharing on social media. Analyzing 1652 survey responses via structural equation modeling, our results confirm all hypotheses at a significance level of 0.001. The coefficients of determination (R-squared) for attitude toward social media health behavior (ATSMHB) and social media health information sharing intention (SMHISI) are 55.6% and 44.4%, respectively, highlighting the model's reliability. External stimuli (e.g., reliability) and internal factors (e.g., social media health literacy) significantly impact ATSMHB. Mediation analysis underscores ATSMHB's role in linking perceived health reliability, information credibility, social media health literacy, eudaimonic motivation, and SMHISI. Post hoc analysis reveals gender differences, with females exhibiting higher R-square values (62.4% for ATSMHB, 48.7% for SMHISI) and social media health literacy playing a more influential role for females than males. These results offer valuable theoretical insights for academics and practical implications for health practitioners, emphasizing the necessity of tailored strategies based on gender-specific preferences. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of health promotion through social media, providing a comprehensive analysis of the psychological processes that drive health information-sharing behavior in the digital age

eHealth · Health belief model · Health communication · Health information · Health literacy · Health promotion · Mediation · Social media · Structural equation modeling · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Social Media in Health Education

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