Health information anxiety in social media users during public health emergencies: A qualitative comparative analysis using attribution theory.

ABSTRACT: This article investigates the mechanisms influencing health information anxiety among social media users during sudden public health emergencies, aiming to provide insights for managing social media users' negative emotions in such contexts. By employing literature analysis and case studies and integrating Three-Dimensional Attribution Theory, the factors contributing to health information anxiety are classified into individual, informational, and situational dimensions. Questionnaire data were gathered via scenario simulation, and a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method was used to validate causal configurations leading to health information anxiety among social media users. The findings indicate that, within the context of sudden public health emergencies, the emergence of health

SUBMITTER: Wenchang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12854430 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature