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Health information-seeking behaviour in adolescence: the place of the internet

Author

Listed:
  • Gray, Nicola J.
  • Klein, Jonathan D.
  • Noyce, Peter R.
  • Sesselberg, Tracy S.
  • Cantrill, Judith A.

Abstract

The internet is one of a range of health information sources available to adolescents. It is recognised that young people have difficulties accessing traditional health services; in theory, the internet offers them confidential and convenient access to an unprecedented level of information about a diverse range of subjects. This could redress adolescents' state of relative health 'information poverty', compared to adults. This paper seeks to explore United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) adolescents' perceptions and experiences of using the internet to find information about health and medicines, in the context of the other health information sources that are available to them. The study involved a series of 26 single-gender focus groups with 157 English-speaking students aged 11-19 years from the UK and the US. Many students reported that the internet was their primary general information source. Information sources were defined during analysis in terms of previous experience of the source, saliency of the available information, and credibility of the source (defined in terms of expertise, trustworthiness and empathy). Most focus group participants had extensive personal experience with the internet and some information providers therein (notably search engines). Internet health information was regarded generally as salient. Its saliency was increased through active searching and personalisation. Perceived credibility of the internet varied because expertise and trustworthiness were sometimes difficult to determine, and empathy could be facilitated through online communities but the individual could control disclosure. The internet combines positive features of traditional lay and professional, personal and impersonal sources. Although it is unlikely to supplant the role of trusted peers and adults, the internet has found an important place among adolescents' repertory of health information sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Gray, Nicola J. & Klein, Jonathan D. & Noyce, Peter R. & Sesselberg, Tracy S. & Cantrill, Judith A., 2005. "Health information-seeking behaviour in adolescence: the place of the internet," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 1467-1478, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:7:p:1467-1478
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Glendinning, Anthony & Hendry, Leo & Shucksmith, Janet, 1995. "Lifestyle, health and social class in adolescence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 235-248, July.
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    2. Jin Zhang & Shanshan Zhai & Hongxia Liu & Jennifer Ann Stevenson, 2016. "Social network analysis on a topic‐based navigation guidance system in a public health portal," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(5), pages 1068-1088, May.
    3. Rue, Lisa A. & Estrada, Samantha & Floren, Michael & MacKinnon, Krista, 2016. "Formative evaluation: Developing measures for online family mental health recovery education," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 27-34.
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    7. Zhao, Shanyang, 2009. "Parental education and children's online health information seeking: Beyond the digital divide debate," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 1501-1505, November.
    8. Halpern, Carolyn Tucker & Mitchell, Ellen M.H. & Farhat, Tilda & Bardsley, Phil, 2008. "Effectiveness of web-based education on Kenyan and Brazilian adolescents' knowledge about HIV/AIDS, abortion law, and emergency contraception: Findings from TeenWeb," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 628-637, August.
    9. Shiu, Edward & Walsh, Gianfranco & Hassan, Louise M. & Parry, Sara, 2015. "The direct and moderating influences of individual-level cultural values within web engagement: A multi-country analysis of a public information website," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 534-541.
    10. Somayeh Esmaeilzadeh & Hasan Ashrafi-rizi & Leila Shahrzadi & Firozeh Mostafavi, 2018. "A survey on adolescent health information seeking behavior related to high-risk behaviors in a selected educational district in Isfahan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, November.
    11. Närhi, Ulla & Helakorpi, Satu, 2007. "Sources of medicine information in Finland," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 51-57, November.
    12. Chia-Shiang Cheng & Yi-Jen Huang & Chien-An Sun & Chi An & Yu-Tien Chang & Chi-Ming Chu & Chi-Wen Chang, 2022. "Gender-Specific Determinants of eHealth Literacy: Results from an Adolescent Internet Behavior Survey in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-11, January.
    13. Dan Huang & Zhiyong Li & Jian Mou & Xinyi Liu, 0. "Effects of flow on young Chinese consumers’ purchase intention: a study of e-servicescape in hotel booking context," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-26.
    14. Gatti, Fabiana Maria & Brivio, Eleonora & Calciano, Sara, 2016. "“Hello! I know you help people here, right?”: A qualitative study of young people's acted motivations in text-based counseling," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 27-35.
    15. Foster, Drew, 2016. "‘Keep complaining til someone listens’: Exchanges of tacit healthcare knowledge in online illness communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 25-32.
    16. Alina Duduciuc, 2014. "Teenagers And The Use Of New Technologies (Ict) For Health Information," Studies and Scientific Researches. Economics Edition, "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacau, Faculty of Economic Sciences, issue 20.
    17. Harvey, Kevin James & Brown, Brian & Crawford, Paul & Macfarlane, Aidan & McPherson, Ann, 2007. "'Am I normal?' Teenagers, sexual health and the internet," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(4), pages 771-781, August.
    18. Quan-Hoang Vuong, 2016. "Information and efficiency in Vietnamese patients' choice of health-care provider: a short report," Working Papers CEB 16-001, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    19. Petra Dermota & Jen Wang & Michelle Dey & Gerhard Gmel & Joseph Studer & Meichun Mohler-Kuo, 2013. "Health literacy and substance use in young Swiss men," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(6), pages 939-948, December.
    20. Dan Huang & Zhiyong Li & Jian Mou & Xinyi Liu, 2017. "Effects of flow on young Chinese consumers’ purchase intention: a study of e-servicescape in hotel booking context," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 203-228, June.
    21. Dedding, Christine & van Doorn, Roesja & Winkler, Lex & Reis, Ria, 2011. "How will e-health affect patient participation in the clinic? A review of e-health studies and the current evidence for changes in the relationship between medical professionals and patients," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(1), pages 49-53, January.
    22. Mariano Hernán-García & Blanca Botello-Díaz & Jorge Marcos-Marcos & Silvia Toro-Cárdenas & Eugenia Gil-García, 2015. "Understanding children: a qualitative study on health assets of the Internet in Spain," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(2), pages 239-247, February.
    23. Tian, Xiaoli & Zhang, Sai, 2022. "Expert or experiential knowledge? How knowledge informs situated action in childcare practices," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

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