The Health Risks of Information Avoidance: A RISP Perspective

Abstract

The study aimed to measure and validate the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model among university students, exploring the factors that predict health information avoidance behaviors and their association with health risk behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the data from 1,500 university students. A five-factor measure model (risk perception, informational norms, information overload, information insufficiency, and negative affective risk responses) was developed and tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings revealed that risk perception, information overload, and negative affective risk responses significantly influence health information avoidance behavior, which in turn significantly impacts health risk behaviors. These results highlight the importance of health literacy programs in reducing risk perception, information overload, and negative affective responses while promoting health information-seeking behaviors. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by identifying key factors within the RISP model that significantly influence health information avoidance. Moreover, these findings can guide the development of targeted interventions aimed at reducing health information avoidance and promoting health-seeking behaviors.