Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application

During COVID-19, SM media was relied upon for health-related information-seeking and activity support. This study uses the social cognitive theory (SCT) and a representative dataset of the population in the US to explore the factors influencing patients’ perceptions of SM for health-related activiti...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Safa Elkefi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/39
_version_ 1797358792910831616
author Safa Elkefi
author_facet Safa Elkefi
author_sort Safa Elkefi
collection DOAJ
description During COVID-19, SM media was relied upon for health-related information-seeking and activity support. This study uses the social cognitive theory (SCT) and a representative dataset of the population in the US to explore the factors influencing patients’ perceptions of SM for health-related activities. As per SCT, consolidated factors comprised personal factors (sociodemographic, health perception, self-efficacy) and environmental factors (social isolation, purpose in life). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. Among the 6252 respondents, 95.15% rarely use SM to share personal health-related information, and 90.44% rarely use it to share general health-related information. Older individuals and Whites are less likely to consider SM for healthcare decisions. Education levels influence SM’s perceived reliability. Those with positive health perceptions find SM more suitable for healthcare discussions. Socially-isolated individuals are less likely to use SM for healthcare. Those with a strong sense of purpose are less inclined to trust it for health decisions and may question its accuracy. SM-based interventions should address sociodemographic differences. Our findings contribute to the literature by SCT relevance validation in identifying the antecedents of SM use in healthcare. Our results also help to understand the challenges to its adoption. This can help enhance SM-based communication strategies and interventions.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T15:07:22Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4fe30e4e02924ba6b5e58b3898175f12
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2227-9032
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T15:07:22Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Healthcare
spelling doaj.art-4fe30e4e02924ba6b5e58b3898175f122024-01-10T14:57:22ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-12-011213910.3390/healthcare12010039Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory ApplicationSafa Elkefi0School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USADuring COVID-19, SM media was relied upon for health-related information-seeking and activity support. This study uses the social cognitive theory (SCT) and a representative dataset of the population in the US to explore the factors influencing patients’ perceptions of SM for health-related activities. As per SCT, consolidated factors comprised personal factors (sociodemographic, health perception, self-efficacy) and environmental factors (social isolation, purpose in life). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. Among the 6252 respondents, 95.15% rarely use SM to share personal health-related information, and 90.44% rarely use it to share general health-related information. Older individuals and Whites are less likely to consider SM for healthcare decisions. Education levels influence SM’s perceived reliability. Those with positive health perceptions find SM more suitable for healthcare discussions. Socially-isolated individuals are less likely to use SM for healthcare. Those with a strong sense of purpose are less inclined to trust it for health decisions and may question its accuracy. SM-based interventions should address sociodemographic differences. Our findings contribute to the literature by SCT relevance validation in identifying the antecedents of SM use in healthcare. Our results also help to understand the challenges to its adoption. This can help enhance SM-based communication strategies and interventions.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/39social mediasocial isolationpurpose and meaning in lifesocial cognitive theoryself-efficacyhealth perception
spellingShingle Safa Elkefi
Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application
Healthcare
social media
social isolation
purpose and meaning in life
social cognitive theory
self-efficacy
health perception
title Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application
title_full Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application
title_fullStr Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application
title_short Exploring Predictors of Social Media Use for Health and Wellness during COVID-19 among Adults in the US: A Social Cognitive Theory Application
title_sort exploring predictors of social media use for health and wellness during covid 19 among adults in the us a social cognitive theory application
topic social media
social isolation
purpose and meaning in life
social cognitive theory
self-efficacy
health perception
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/39
work_keys_str_mv AT safaelkefi exploringpredictorsofsocialmediauseforhealthandwellnessduringcovid19amongadultsintheusasocialcognitivetheoryapplication