Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking

This narrative review offers a deep dive into the theoretical and empirical literature on adolescent online health information-seeking behavior, specifically in relation to sexual health. It presents ways in which motivational influences impact adolescent social media use to seek sexual health infor...

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Main Author: Yvonne Allsop
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Sexes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/5/4/37
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author Yvonne Allsop
author_facet Yvonne Allsop
author_sort Yvonne Allsop
collection DOAJ
description This narrative review offers a deep dive into the theoretical and empirical literature on adolescent online health information-seeking behavior, specifically in relation to sexual health. It presents ways in which motivational influences impact adolescent social media use to seek sexual health information and offers insight into how Longo’s comprehensive and integrated model for understanding health information, communication, and information-seeking and self-determination theory may be used as frameworks for improved understanding in adolescent use of social media for seeking information related to sexual health. The main objectives of this article are, first, to examine the existing literature pertaining to social media, namely its main characteristics and uses by adolescents, its use as an educational tool, and its relation to health information; second, to explore information-seeking and learning through online platforms, particularly social media; and third, to provide a framework utilizing self-determination theory to better understand adolescent motivation in health-seeking behavior. This manuscript advances current knowledge and practices in supporting adolescent skill-development surrounding information-seeking and evaluation behaviors. Such practices will only become more beneficial as young people seek information in various settings (e.g., online, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence systems), particularly sensitive information such as that related to sexual health.
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spelling doaj-art-5137e676e1634321915bc7c94cbf6a2a2024-12-27T14:53:31ZengMDPI AGSexes2411-51182024-10-015454457810.3390/sexes5040037Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-SeekingYvonne Allsop0319 M. Porter Building, School of Health Promotion & Human Performance, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USAThis narrative review offers a deep dive into the theoretical and empirical literature on adolescent online health information-seeking behavior, specifically in relation to sexual health. It presents ways in which motivational influences impact adolescent social media use to seek sexual health information and offers insight into how Longo’s comprehensive and integrated model for understanding health information, communication, and information-seeking and self-determination theory may be used as frameworks for improved understanding in adolescent use of social media for seeking information related to sexual health. The main objectives of this article are, first, to examine the existing literature pertaining to social media, namely its main characteristics and uses by adolescents, its use as an educational tool, and its relation to health information; second, to explore information-seeking and learning through online platforms, particularly social media; and third, to provide a framework utilizing self-determination theory to better understand adolescent motivation in health-seeking behavior. This manuscript advances current knowledge and practices in supporting adolescent skill-development surrounding information-seeking and evaluation behaviors. Such practices will only become more beneficial as young people seek information in various settings (e.g., online, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence systems), particularly sensitive information such as that related to sexual health.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/5/4/37sexual health educationhealth educationinformation-seekingsocial mediaadolescentssexual health information
spellingShingle Yvonne Allsop
Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking
Sexes
sexual health education
health education
information-seeking
social media
adolescents
sexual health information
title Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking
title_full Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking
title_fullStr Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking
title_full_unstemmed Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking
title_short Setting the Social Media Stage, a Narrative Review: The Role of Theory and Research in Understanding Adolescent Online Sexual Health Information-Seeking
title_sort setting the social media stage a narrative review the role of theory and research in understanding adolescent online sexual health information seeking
topic sexual health education
health education
information-seeking
social media
adolescents
sexual health information
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/5/4/37
work_keys_str_mv AT yvonneallsop settingthesocialmediastageanarrativereviewtheroleoftheoryandresearchinunderstandingadolescentonlinesexualhealthinformationseeking