Why Do Young Adults Turn to YouTube for Diet and Exercise Information? A Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking Approach.

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Health Communication Pub Date : 2026-10-17 DOI:10.1080/10410236.2026.2748522

Eunyoung Myung, Karyn Riddle

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study examines why U.S. young adults (18-29) frequently rely on YouTube for diet and exercise information, drawing on the comprehensive model of information seeking (CMIS) as a guiding framework. Using a national survey of 508 respondents, we found that health consciousness, internet self-efficacy, convenience motivations, perceived credibility, and perceived vividness significantly predict perceived utility of YouTube. In turn, perceived utility mediates the relationship between these key antecedents and health information-seeking behaviors. These findings underscore the importance of platform-specific factors, particularly vividness and convenience in shaping health communication strategies aimed at young adults. From a theoretical standpoint, the results expand CMIS by highlighting how interactive, user-generated media environments can amplify or alter traditional predictors of information-seeking. Practically, they suggest that designing YouTube content to be both visually engaging and trustworthy may enhance user perceptions of utility and ultimately encourage healthier behaviors. Overall, this study sheds light on how young adults navigate digital resources and offers valuable insights for improving online health interventions.

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为什么年轻人会在YouTube上寻找饮食和运动信息？信息寻求方法的综合模型。

本研究以信息寻求综合模型（CMIS）为指导框架，探讨了美国年轻人（18-29岁）经常依赖YouTube获取饮食和运动信息的原因。通过对508名受访者的全国性调查，我们发现健康意识、互联网自我效能感、便利动机、感知可信度和感知生动性显著地预测了YouTube的感知效用。反过来，感知效用调节了这些关键前因与健康信息寻求行为之间的关系。这些发现强调了平台特定因素的重要性，特别是在制定针对年轻人的健康传播策略时的生动性和便利性。从理论的角度来看，研究结果通过强调交互式、用户生成的媒体环境如何放大或改变信息搜索的传统预测因素，扩展了CMIS。实际上，他们认为，将YouTube内容设计得既吸引人又值得信赖，可能会增强用户对实用性的认知，并最终鼓励更健康的行为。总的来说，这项研究揭示了年轻人如何浏览数字资源，并为改善在线健康干预提供了宝贵的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Health Communication Multiple-

CiteScore

8.20

自引率

10.30%

发文量

184

期刊介绍： As an outlet for scholarly intercourse between medical and social sciences, this noteworthy journal seeks to improve practical communication between caregivers and patients and between institutions and the public. Outstanding editorial board members and contributors from both medical and social science arenas collaborate to meet the challenges inherent in this goal. Although most inclusions are data-based, the journal also publishes pedagogical, methodological, theoretical, and applied articles using both quantitative or qualitative methods.