Unpacking Young Adults’ Fact-Checking Intent on Oral Health Misinformation: Parallel Mediating Roles of Need for Cognition and Perceived Seriousness—A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study explores how young adults in China decide to fact-check oral health misinformation, focusing on their thinking habits and perception of seriousness.

Contribution

The study introduces a parallel mediation model linking misinformation recognition to fact-checking intent through need for cognition and perceived seriousness.

Findings

Misinformation recognition is positively linked to fact-checking intent.

Need for cognition and perceived seriousness mediate the relationship between misinformation recognition and fact-checking intent.

The findings suggest practical strategies to promote fact-checking behaviors among young adults.

Abstract

Background: Oral health misinformation has increasingly proliferated across social media platforms in China, prompting rising concerns about the accuracy of health-related content. Fact-checking intent has been identified as a key strategy for mitigating the spread of such misinformation. However, empirical research on the psychological factors shaping engagement in fact-checking behaviors remains limited. Objectives: This study aims to examine the association between misinformation recognition and fact-checking intent among Chinese young adults (aged 18–36). Methods: Guided by status quo bias theory, this study integrates psychological constructs into its theoretical framework. A stimulus-based online survey was conducted, yielding 452 valid responses. Direct, mediated, and serial mediation hypotheses were tested using SPSS 26.0 and Jamovi 2.6.24. Results: The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between misinformation recognition and fact-checking intent. A parallel mediation model involving need for cognition and perceived seriousness was supported, clarifying the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship. Conclusions: This study contributes valuable empirical evidence to the understanding of fact-checking intent among Chinese young adults in the context of oral health misinformation. The findings offer practical implications for developing targeted interventions to increase misinformation awareness and promote active engagement in fact-checking behaviors.

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