Abstract
Prior studies have examined correlates of health information seeking and scanning separately, focusing on distinct theoretical frameworks, antecedents, and outcomes. In this meta-analysis we synthesize this research (k = 21; N = 39,510) by examining the relationship between health information seeking and scanning, and their key antecedents and outcomes. Results show that seeking and scanning are moderately and positively correlated, supporting the claim that these are distinct, albeit related, and behaviors. Level of education and income are positive correlates of scanning (but not seeking) behaviors. Conversely, issue-relevance is positively associated with seeking (but not scanning). Results show substantial parity in associations between seeking and scanning with topic-relevant attitudes and behavioral intention. Information seeking (but not scanning), however, is a significant correlate of risk perceptions and perceived social norms. Thus, scanning and seeking are associated with distinct antecedents, but have similar effects. We offer theoretical implications and directions for future research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 468-479 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Human Communication Research |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Oct 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Communication Association. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- health information
- information scanning
- information seeking
- meta-analysis
- risk perceptions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Communication
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Anthropology
- Linguistics and Language