The Dark Side of Trust: How Trust in Online Health Information Impacts Well-Being and Mental Health
This empirical study utilizes data from the China General Social Survey 2021, encompassing a sample of 2,690 respondents, to explore the relationship between trust in online health resources and individual well-being and mental health. The analysis reveals a significant negative correlation between trust in online health information and subjective well-being and mental health. Disadvantaged groups, including individuals with low income, low socioeconomic status, those residing in rural areas, and less developed provinces, exhibit higher levels of trust in online health information. This trust is linked to increased health risk cognitive biases and anti-doctor attitudes, which may serve as pathways leading to lower subjective well-being and mental health.
The study further identifies that overconfidence in one’s ability to discern the quality of online health information and the negative impact of trust in such information on mental health have a substitution effect. Individuals who are overconfident in their ability to evaluate online health information quality predominantly belong to low SES groups. Additionally, the adverse effects of trust in online health information on subjective well-being and mental health are more pronounced among individuals with poor health status or those lacking public health insurance.
These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve health literacy and critical evaluation skills, particularly among disadvantaged populations, to mitigate the negative impacts of trust in online health resources on well-being and mental health. This research contributes to the sociological understanding of digital health and highlights the complex interplay between trust, health literacy, and socio-economic factors in shaping health outcomes.