Ni Zhang1, Michele Teti2, Kellie Stanfield2, Shelly Campo3. 1. 1 San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA. 2. 2 University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. 3. 3 University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This exploratory qualitative study examines Chinese adolescents' health information sharing habits on social network sites. METHOD: Ten focus group meetings with 76 adolescents, ages 12 to 17 years, were conducted at community-based organizations in Chicago's Chinatown. The research team transcribed the recording and analyzed the transcripts using ATLAS.ti. RESULTS: Chinese adolescents are using different social network sites for various topics of health information including food, physical activity, and so on. Adolescents would share useful and/or interesting health information. Many adolescents raised credibility concerns regarding health information and suggested evaluating the information based on self-experience or intuition, word-of-mouth, or information online. CONCLUSION: The findings shed lights on future intervention using social network sites to promote health among Chinese adolescents in the United States. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Future interventions should provide adolescents with interesting and culturally sensitive health information and educate them to critically evaluate health information on social network sites.
PURPOSE: This exploratory qualitative study examines Chinese adolescents' health information sharing habits on social network sites. METHOD: Ten focus group meetings with 76 adolescents, ages 12 to 17 years, were conducted at community-based organizations in Chicago's Chinatown. The research team transcribed the recording and analyzed the transcripts using ATLAS.ti. RESULTS: Chinese adolescents are using different social network sites for various topics of health information including food, physical activity, and so on. Adolescents would share useful and/or interesting health information. Many adolescents raised credibility concerns regarding health information and suggested evaluating the information based on self-experience or intuition, word-of-mouth, or information online. CONCLUSION: The findings shed lights on future intervention using social network sites to promote health among Chinese adolescents in the United States. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Future interventions should provide adolescents with interesting and culturally sensitive health information and educate them to critically evaluate health information on social network sites.
Keywords:
Internet and health; adolescents; community health; focus group analysis