Exploring generational and educational disparities in online health information seeking in China: The moderating role of internet use.

Objective: To investigate the generational and educational gaps in online health information seeking (OHIS) in China and to analyze the connections between internet use and these disparities. Methods: Utilizing data from the Chinese General Social Survey 2021, binary logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between age groups (18-40 years, 41-59 years, and ≥60 years), educational levels (middle school or below, high school, and college or above), and OHIS. Furthermore, we calculated the marginal effects of the main predictors at different levels of the moderator, along with the second difference between distinct levels of the main predictor, to rigorously assess the moderating effect of internet use. Results: The results indicated significant generational differences, with middle-aged and older adults less likely to engage in OHIS than younger adults. A clear educational gap was also revealed, as individuals with high school and college attainments were more inclined to engage in OHIS than those with a middle school education or below. Importantly, the interaction effect demonstrated the association between internet use and narrowing these generational and educational disparities. Conclusions: This study sheds light on generational and educational gaps in OHIS in China, investigating the relationship between internet use and the reduction of these disparities in OHIS.