title: Social Support, Trust in Health Information, and Health Information-Seeking Behaviors (HISBs): A Study Using the 2012 Annenberg National Health Communication Survey (ANHCS).
abstract: We proposed a conceptual model to predict health information-seeking behaviors (HISBs) from three different sources (family, the Internet, doctors). To test the model, a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted using data from the 2012 Annenberg National Health Communication Survey (ANHCS) (N = 3,285). Findings suggest higher social support from family predicts higher trust in health information from family members (abbreviated as trust in this article). Trust is positively related to HISBs from all three sources, with the path linking trust to HISB from family being the strongest. The effect of social support on HISB from family is partially mediated by trust, while effect of social support on HISBs from the Internet/doctors is fully mediated by trust. Implications of the study are discussed.
authors: a Annenberg School for Communication , University of Pennsylvania.
authors: Qinghua
authors: Q
authors: Yang
authors: b Department of Communication Studies , Sam Houston State University.
authors: Yixin
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: c Department of Public Health Sciences , University of Miami.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Wendorf Muhamad
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D035502:Trust