Digital health literacy and well-being: Results of a quantitative study among university students in Austria during the coronavirus pandemic

Abstract

Background: Previous findings suggest that depressive and anxiety-related symptoms have doubled among students since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Digital health literacy can act as a protective resource to strengthen well-being. Objectives: This paper analyzes the relationship between digital health literacy, socioeconomic status, well-being and future-anxiety among students in Austria. Methods: A total of 480 students from Austrian higher education institutions were surveyed via online questionnaire during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Sociodemographic data, students’ self-assessments of well-being, fears about the future, and digital health literacy were collected. Variance and regression analyses were used for the evaluation. Results: About 50% of the students reported low well-being and distinct fears about the future. Regarding digital health literacy, the ability to assess the relevance of information showed the highest correlation with well-being. A higher socioeconomic status correlated with higher well-being as well as lower fears about the future. Conclusions: The assessment of the relevance of information and connecting it with one’s own life reality seems to be an important factor in promoting well-being. Individual factors such as gender or the study program are relevant for the relationship between well-being and digital health literacy.