Internet use and youth self-reported health over the course of COVID-19 in China.

INTRODUCTION

The reshaping of lifestyles and interpersonal interactions by Internet use has brought about a networked characterization of youth self-reported health. Will the networked characterizations of youth's self-reported health change under the influence of the COVID-19?

METHODS

We used multiple linear regression models to test the hypothesis of moderating effect and the hypothesis of heterogeneity by analyzing data from the 2017 and 2021 China General Social Surveys.

RESULTS

First, Internet use can improve youth self-reported health by promoting healthy lifestyles and interpersonal interactions. Second, under the influence of COVID-19, the positive effect of Internet use on youth self-reported health through healthy lifestyles was weakened, but the positive effect of Internet use on youth self-reported health through interpersonal interactions was strengthened. Third, the information support of Internet use in terms of lifestyles and the emotional support in terms of interpersonal interactions have different enhancing impacts on youth self-reported health, i.e., high-frequency Internet use significantly promotes youth self-reported health, and this positive effect is more pronounced in the low-income and low-education youth groups.

DISCUSSION: The networked characterization of Internet use shapes youth self-reported health through both healthy lifestyles and interpersonal interactions. Under the impact of COVID-19, the online information support pathway of youth self-reported health has declined, while the online emotional support pathway has become more prominent, suggesting a breakthrough of the physical isolation limitations of pandemic-proof social capital. Networked characterizations had a more significant improvement in the self-reported health of disadvantaged youth, suggesting that Internet use may have positive potential to narrow health inequalities.