Relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health.
This study aimed to explore relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health. Participants were from representative samples between 15 and 80 years of age from seven different European countries. Two different survey datasets were used: (i) eHealth trends (eHT; N = 7934) and (ii) the European social survey (ESS2; N = 11248). Internet users who had used the Internet for health purposes were compared with Internet users who had not used it for health purposes. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the relationships between SES, Internet use, social support and subjective health. Use of other media was compared to Internet use in relation to social support and subjective health. Internet use was found to be more closely related to social support and subjective health than use of other media. Internet use was also found to be a plausible mediator between SES and subjective health, especially through interacting with social support.
Wangberg
Silje C
SC
1Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine, University Hospital of Northern Norway, PO Box 35, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway. silje.camilla.wangberg@telemed.no
Andreassen
Hege K
HK
Prokosch
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Santana
Silvina Maria Vagos
SM
Sørensen
Tove
T
Chronaki
Catharine E
CE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors