Digital health literacy and well-being Results of a quantitative study among university students in Austria during the coronavirus pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background Previous findings suggest that depressive and anxiety-related symptoms have doubled among students since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Digital health literacy can act as a protective resource to strengthen well-being. Objectives This paper analyzes the relationship between digital health literacy, socioeconomic status, well-being and future-anxiety among students in Austria. Methods A total of 480 students from Austrian higher education institutions were surveyed via online questionnaire during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Sociodemographic data, students' self-assessments of well-being, fears about the future, and digital health literacy were collected. Variance and regression analyses were used for the evaluation. Results About 50% of the students reported low well-being and distinct fears about the future. Regarding digital health literacy, the ability to assess the relevance of information showed the highest correlation with well-being. A higher socioeconomic status correlated with higher well-being as well as lower fears about the future. Conclusions The assessment of the relevance of information and connecting it with one's own life reality seems to be an important factor in promoting well-being. Individual factors such as gender or the study program are relevant for the relationship between well-being and digital health literacy.