Effects of health information seeking behaviors on anxiety, and loss among East Asian international students

Abstract

This study examined the influences of anxiety, health information seeking behavior, cross-cultural loss on satisfaction with life among 186 East Asian international students while studying abroad in the U.S. The results showed that general and health anxiety are both significantly associated with satisfaction with life, while there is a positive association between health anxiety and Internet health information seeking behaviors. Internet health information seeking behavior also mediated the link between health anxiety and satisfaction with life in the U.S. Cross-cultural loss did not moderate the relationship between Internet health information seeking behavior and satisfaction with life as predicted. Results of this study provide additional knowledge about East Asian international students' health, including the connection between general and health anxiety, Internet health information seeking behavior, and satisfaction with life. Findings from this study may have implications for higher education institutions serving international students.