Impact of health information seeking behavior and digital health literacy on self-perceived health and depression symptoms among older adults in the United States

Abstract

Background: Understanding the impact of digital health literacy and health information-seeking behavior on the self-perceived health and depression symptoms of older adults is crucial, particularly as the number of older internet users is increasing. Methods: This study utilized data from the Health Information National Trends Survey to examine the relationship between these factors and the health outcomes of adults aged 50 and above. Results: The study found that digital health literacy has a positive but non-significant relationship with self-perceived health when other factors are considered. However, education level and body mass index consistently predicted self-perceived health. Moreover, higher digital health literacy was associated with a reduced likelihood of perceived depression symptoms, even after adjusting for demographic and health-related factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of digital health literacy in the mental well-being of older adults and provide insights for shaping future health policies and interventions.