Dataset Information

Relationship Between Internet Use and Change in Health Status: Panel Study of Young Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Using the internet for health information is a widespread phenomenon documented in considerable scholarship. Less common, however, is the analysis of panel data to examine how internet use may relate to change in health status over time.

Objective

This study examines whether internet use and internet use related to health are associated with a change in health status among young adults.

Methods

We used a unique panel survey data set collected about young adults' internet use in 2012 and 2016 (n=384). We applied logistic regression to examine the relationships between sociodemographics, internet experiences, frequency of health-related internet use, and sharing health content online with change in health status over time. We additionally examined the variables characterizing sharing health content online (via Facebook, Twitter, and email) in separate models.

Results

In the second wave, over half (236/384, 61.5%) of the sample used the internet for health at least weekly. Approximately one-third (141/384, 36.7%) used Facebook for health-content sharing, while using Twitter and email for sharing health content were far less frequent (14/384, 3.6%, and 55/384, 14.3%, respectively). A change in health status occurred for 43.0% (165/384) of the sample; 18.5% (71/384) reported an improvement while 24.5% (94/384) reported a decline. Greater frequency of internet use was associated with health decline over time (B=-0.58, P=.02). We also found that frequent health-related internet use was related to enhanced health or maintained health (B=0.58, P=.03). Sharing health content on social media or email, however, was not related to young adults' health changes.

Conclusions

Young adults exhibit a pattern of using the internet for health that influences their health status. Our finding that frequent health-related internet use may promote improved or maintained health suggests that this type of online activity might also support healthy living.

SUBMITTER: Hunsaker A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7840280 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Relationship Between Internet Use and Change in Health Status: Panel Study of Young Adults.

Hunsaker Amanda A Hargittai Eszter E Micheli Marina M

Journal of medical Internet research 20210113 1

<h4>Background</h4>Using the internet for health information is a widespread phenomenon documented in considerable scholarship. Less common, however, is the analysis of panel data to examine how internet use may relate to change in health status over time.<h4>Objective</h4>This study examines whether internet use and internet use related to health are associated with a change in health status among young adults.<h4>Methods</h4>We used a unique panel survey data set collected about young adults' ...[more]

PMID: 33439134

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Project description:ObjectivesGiven many countries' ageing populations, policymakers must consider how to mitigate or reduce health problems associated with old age, within budgetary constraints. Evidence of use of digital technology in delaying the onset of illness and reducing healthcare service use is mixed, with no clear consensus as yet. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between frequent internet use and patterns of health or social care resource use in primary care attendees who took part in a study seeking to improve the health of older adults.MethodsParticipants recruited from primary care, aged >65 and living in semirural or urban areas in the south of England, were followed up at 3 and 6 months after completing a comprehensive questionnaire with personalised feedback on their health and well-being. We performed logistic regression analyses to investigate relationships between frequent internet use and patterns of service use, controlling for confounding factors, and clustering by general practitioner practice. Four categories of service use data were gathered: use of primary National Health Service (NHS) care; secondary NHS care; other community health and social care services; and assistance with washing, shopping and meals.ResultsOur results show, in this relatively healthy population, a positive relationship (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.23) between frequent internet use and use of any other community-based health services (physiotherapist, osteopath/chiropractor, dentist, optician/optometrist, counselling service, smoking cessation service, chiropodist/podiatrist, emergency services, other non-specific health services) and no relationship with the other types of care. No causal relationship can be postulated due to the study's design.ConclusionsNo observed relationship between frequent internet use and primary or secondary care use was found, suggesting that older adults without internet access are not disadvantaged regarding healthcare use. Further research should explore how older people use the internet to access healthcare and the impact on health.

Project description:BackgroundDigital technology use is nearly ubiquitous among young adults; this use provides both benefits and risks. The risks of technology use include maladaptive technology use or technology addiction. Several conceptualizations of these addictions have emerged, each with its own assessment tools. These conditions include problematic internet use (PIU), internet gaming disorder (IGD), and social media addiction (SMA). These conditions have been associated with health outcomes such as problematic alcohol use, sleep disorders, and mental illness. These maladaptive technology conditions have been most commonly studied in isolation from each other.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to examine PIU, IGD, and SMA together to better inform future research approaches and provider screening practices for young adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey study was conducted using Qualtrics panel-based recruitment and survey hosting. We recruited US young adults aged 18-25 years. The survey assessed PIU, IGD, and SMA. Survey measures also included assessments of problematic alcohol use, sleep, depression, and anxiety. We evaluated the frequency of and overlap in positive screening scores among PIU, IGD, and SMA and modeled each condition using multivariate logistic regression. Finally, we calculated sensitivity and specificity, as well as the positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the screening tools using the most prevalent maladaptive technology type.ResultsOur 6000 participants had an average age of 21.7 (SD 2.5) years. Of these 6000 participants, 3062 (51.03%) were female, 3431 (57.18%) were Caucasian, 1686 (28.1%) were in a 4-year college program, and 2319 (38.65%) worked full time. The mean PIU score was 3.5 (SD 3.1), and 53.58% (3215/6000) of participants met the criteria for PIU. The mean IGD score was 2.7 (SD 2.6), and 24.33% (1460/6000) of participants met the criteria for IGD. The mean SMA score was 7.5 (SD 5.7), and 3.42% (205/6000) met the criteria for SMA. Across all 3 maladaptive technology use diagnoses, there were varied associations with demographic variables and similar overlap with health outcomes. The sensitivity of PIU screening to detect IGD was 82% and to detect SMA was 93%, whereas the specificity and positive predictive value were much lower (37%-54% specificity; 6%-37% positive predictive value).ConclusionsThis cross-sectional survey screened a large national sample of adolescents and young adults for PIU, IGD, and SMA to determine prevalence and overlap, demographic associations with each, and associations between these technology-related conditions and health outcomes. There was overlap across PIU, IGD, and SMA in some associated demographic variables and health outcomes. However, the patterns in the associated variables demonstrated unique qualities of each of these conditions.

Dataset Information

Relationship Between Internet Use and Change in Health Status: Panel Study of Young Adults.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Relationship Between Internet Use and Change in Health Status: Panel Study of Young Adults.

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