Covid-digital health literacy and subjective well-being of students in Ghana: Mediation-moderation analyses.
Covid-digital health literacy and subjective well-being of students in Ghana: Mediation-moderation analyses.
Publication Year
22
Article Title
Covid-digital health literacy and subjective well-being of students in Ghana: Mediation-moderation analyses.
Journal
Health Science Reports.
Volume
5
Issue Number
916
Page Numbers
1-10
Abstract
Background: Previous research has established a strong association between
COVID‐19 digital health literacy (DHL) and subjective well‐being among several
populations, including students. With the growing misinformation and heightened
fear of COVID‐19 among persons with an underlying medical condition, several
scholars have questioned the direct relationship between DHL and well‐being. This
study assessed the moderating roles of information accuracy concerns and the
existence of an underlying medical condition among students.
Methods: Using a cross‐sectional design, a multi‐stage sampling approach was used
to select 1392 students from senior high schools in Northern Ghana who completed
a questionnaire containing information on DHL, information accuracy, subjective
well‐being, and underlying health condition, with reported internal consistency
coefficients above 0.70. The data which was processed with SPSS version 25, was
analyzed using correlation (Pearson and biserial), and Hayes' PROCESS for the
moderation and mediation analyses.
Results: A significant positive relationship was found between (a) DHL and
subjective well‐being, (b) DHL and information accuracy concerns, and (c)
information accuracy concerns and subjective well‐being. However, the prevalence
of underlying health condition was negatively associated with information accuracy,
DHL, and subjective well‐being. Information accuracy concerns and the existence of
an underlying medical condition significantly regulated the relationship between
DHL and subjective well‐being.
Conclusions: Demonstrating satisfactory levels of DHL does not necessarily result in
improved subjective well‐being. However, emphasis should be placed on whether
individuals attach much importance to the accuracy of information retrieved as well
as having or not an underlying health condition.