Reliance on Social Networks and Health Professionals for Health Information in the U.S. Adult Population

Thumbnail Image

Files

manuscript01_Immigrant and Minority Health_ACCEPTED_OCT 03 2023.pdf (319.85 KB)

Links to Files

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10903-023-01556-4

Permanent Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01556-4
 http://hdl.handle.net/11603/30802

Collections

UMBC Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health Department
UMBC Faculty Collection
UMBC Gerontology Program
UMBC Student Collection

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2748-1812
 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2325-126X

Date

2023-10-21

Type of Work

journal articles
postprints
Text

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Narine, D., Yamashita, T., Punksungka, W. et al. Reliance on Social Networks and Health Professionals for Health Information in the U.S. Adult Population. J Immigrant Minority Health (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01556-4

Rights

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01556-4
Access to this item will begin on 10-21-2024.

Subjects

Abstract

Background: The subpopulation of adults depends on non-online health information sources including their social networks and health professionals, to the exclusion of online sources. In view of the digital divide and health information disparities, the roles of race/ethnicity and digital skills are yet to be explored. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 6,830 adults from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) was analyzed, using binary logistic regression. Results: Black adults and adults with higher digital skills were less likely to be reliant on non-online health information sources, compared to White adults and those with lower digital skills, respectively. Discussion: Differences in non-online health information source reliance by race/ethnicity and digital skills might be further nuanced by the relevant demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Increasing digital skills may expand one’s health information sources to include reliable online sources and empower adults to promote their health.