Patterns of Online Stress Management Information-Seeking Behavior in Hungary

TL;DR

This study explores how people in Hungary use online resources to manage stress, focusing on factors like social exclusion and distrust in healthcare.

Contribution

The study identifies specific demographic and health-related factors associated with online stress management information-seeking behavior in Hungary.

Findings

Socially excluded groups are most likely to seek online stress management information.

Divorced individuals, the unemployed, and rural residents show higher odds of online stress management information-seeking behavior.

Distrust in the healthcare system is significantly linked to online stress management information-seeking behavior.

Abstract

This paper examines the societal, demographic, and health-related determinants of online stress management information-seeking (OSMIS) behavior in Hungary. We processed the International Social Survey Program: Health and Healthcare (n = 1008) dataset of 2021. Relationships between variables were assessed using weighted multiple logistic regression. The bootstrapping method was applied to gauge the robustness and reliability of the estimates. Subgroup analyses were also utilized to explore potential confounding effects between OSMIS behavior and various socioeconomic and health-related lifestyle factors. Empirical findings indicate that socially excluded strata were the most likely to seek online stress management information to cope with stressful situations. OSMIS behavior was significantly associated with divorced marital status (OR = 3.13; 95% CI: [1.92–5.17]), unemployment (OR = 2.22 [1.64–2.99]), living in a rural village (OR = 1.39 [1.12–1.93]), and distrust in the healthcare system (OR = 2.03 [1.33–3.11]). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of techquity played a pivotal role in Hungary, bridging gaps in health access. Policymakers, healthcare practitioners, and digital health developers may harness our results to enhance digital health tools within integrated healthcare systems, prioritizing equitable access to ensure that marginalized populations can fully benefit from the advantages of techquity and digital inclusion.