Relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health

This study aimed to explore relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health. Participants were from representative samples between 15 and 80 years of age from seven different European countries. Two different survey datasets were used: (i) eHealth tr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion international 2008-03, Vol.23 (1), p.70-77
Main Authors: Wangberg, Silje C., Andreassen, Hege K., Prokosch, Hans-Ulrich, Santana, Silvina Maria Vagos, Sørensen, Tove, Chronaki, Catharine E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Consumer Health Information - methods
Europe
Female
Health Status
Humans
Internet
Internet - utilization
Male
Middle Aged
PERSPECTIVES
SES
Social Support
Socioeconomic Factors
Socioeconomic status
subjective health
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Summary:This study aimed to explore relations between Internet use, socio-economic status (SES), social support and subjective health. Participants were from representative samples between 15 and 80 years of age from seven different European countries. Two different survey datasets were used: (i) eHealth trends (eHT; N = 7934) and (ii) the European social survey (ESS2; N = 11248). Internet users who had used the Internet for health purposes were compared with Internet users who had not used it for health purposes. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the relationships between SES, Internet use, social support and subjective health. Use of other media was compared to Internet use in relation to social support and subjective health. Internet use was found to be more closely related to social support and subjective health than use of other media. Internet use was also found to be a plausible mediator between SES and subjective health, especially through interacting with social support.
ISSN:0957-4824
1460-2245
DOI:10.1093/heapro/dam039