TY - JOUR

T1 - Digital health literacy and subjective wellbeing in the context of COVID-19

T2 - A cross-sectional study among university students in Ecuador

AU - Rivadeneira, María F.

AU - Salvador, Carmen

AU - Araujo, Lorena

AU - Caicedo-Gallardo, José D.

AU - Cóndor, José

AU - Torres-Castillo, Ana Lucía

AU - Miranda-Velasco, María J.

AU - Dadaczynski, Kevin

AU - Okan, Orkan

N1 - Funding Information: This research is part of the products of the International Consortium of COVID-HL Universities, with data from Ecuador. We thank the authorities of the universities of Ecuador and their students for the collaboration provided for data collection. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Rivadeneira, Salvador, Araujo, Caicedo-Gallardo, Cóndor, Torres-Castillo, Miranda-Velasco, Dadaczynski and Okan.

PY - 2023/1/11

Y1 - 2023/1/11

N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an avalanche of information, which, if not properly addressed, generates uncertainty and limits healthy decision-making. On the other hand, the pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems among young people and adolescents, causing a worsening of their wellbeing. Previous studies have found that digital health literacy has a positive impact on people's attitudes toward the disease. This study aimed to analyze the association between digital health literacy on COVID-19 with subjective wellbeing in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed in 917 students from Ecuador. Subjective wellbeing was measured with the World Health Organization WellBeing Scale. Digital health literacy was assessed using the Spanish-translated version of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument adapted to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bivariate and multivariate linear regressions were performed. Results: Digital health literacy and subjective wellbeing proofed to be significantly higher among males and among students with higher social status. The association between digital health literacy and subjective wellbeing was significant; for each increase of one point in the digital health literacy scale, an average increase of 9.64 points could be observed on the subjective wellbeing scale (IC 95% 5.61 – 13.67, p-value <0.001). This correlation persisted after adjust by demographic and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion: Improving digital health literacy in health would improve the subjective wellbeing of university students. It is suggested strengthen the digital health literacy through public and university policies that promote access, search skills and discernment of digital information. Socioeconomic and gender inequalities related to digital health literacy need to be further investigated.

AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an avalanche of information, which, if not properly addressed, generates uncertainty and limits healthy decision-making. On the other hand, the pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems among young people and adolescents, causing a worsening of their wellbeing. Previous studies have found that digital health literacy has a positive impact on people's attitudes toward the disease. This study aimed to analyze the association between digital health literacy on COVID-19 with subjective wellbeing in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed in 917 students from Ecuador. Subjective wellbeing was measured with the World Health Organization WellBeing Scale. Digital health literacy was assessed using the Spanish-translated version of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument adapted to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bivariate and multivariate linear regressions were performed. Results: Digital health literacy and subjective wellbeing proofed to be significantly higher among males and among students with higher social status. The association between digital health literacy and subjective wellbeing was significant; for each increase of one point in the digital health literacy scale, an average increase of 9.64 points could be observed on the subjective wellbeing scale (IC 95% 5.61 – 13.67, p-value <0.001). This correlation persisted after adjust by demographic and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion: Improving digital health literacy in health would improve the subjective wellbeing of university students. It is suggested strengthen the digital health literacy through public and university policies that promote access, search skills and discernment of digital information. Socioeconomic and gender inequalities related to digital health literacy need to be further investigated.

KW - COVID-19

KW - cross-sectional

KW - digital health literacy

KW - university

KW - wellbeing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146998968&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1052423

DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1052423

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 36711373

AN - SCOPUS:85146998968

VL - 10

JO - Frontiers in Public Health

JF - Frontiers in Public Health

SN - 2296-2565

M1 - 1052423

ER -