Empowering older adults: bridging the digital divide in online health information seeking

The proliferation of digital technology and the widespread adoption of smartphones provide older adults with valuable opportunities to seek health information. However, older adults do not reap the health benefits equally from using these digital technologies. This study draws on social cognitive theory to explore how to promote older adults to seek health information online to alleviate digital inequality. This study surveyed 277 older adults and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling. The findings confirm that self-efficacy and health-related outcome expectations are primary predictors of online health information seeking among older adults. Furthermore, this study identifies the sources of self-efficacy and health-related outcome expectations among older adults. Specifically, past experience and emotional state are significant sources of self-efficacy, while past experience, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and emotional state are crucial for enhancing health-related outcome expectations. Moreover, this study reveals health status negatively moderates the relationship between health-related outcome expectations and health information-seeking intention. These findings have important implications for research and practicality.