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New research examines how Irish adolescents navigate online health information
Nearly 95% of adolescents use the internet daily and 88% use social media every day.
Health topics such as nutrition, mental health and sexual health are among the most frequently searched subjects by young people, yet the digital spaces where this information is shared remain largely unregulated.
Hannah Linney, a PhD researcher at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) from Co Carlow, is studying how Irish adolescents engage with health information online, and their ability to do so safely and effectively.
Her recent PLOS One publication forms the basis of a wider review of evidence on adolescents’ digital health literacy, an emerging but under explored area of research.
Her research project, ‘Measuring the digital health literacy and health behaviours of adolescents in Ireland’, is looking at how young people interact with health information in an increasingly digital world.
Working closely with adolescents using a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) approach, she aims to capture their lived experience of navigating online health information. The findings will inform education and policy aimed at improving digital health literacy among young people.
By engaging directly with adolescents throughout this study, we hope to contribute to the development of educational resources and policies that meaningfully address the needs of adolescents in Ireland today so that they can be supported to engage safely health information in a safe and appropriate manner”
Hannah Linney, PhD researcher
In an age of rapid digitisation, the internet and social media play an increasingly significant role in adolescents’ lives, shaping their worldview and behaviours.
Evidence suggests that, alongside socialising and entertainment, young people are turning to online spaces to learn about their health and wellbeing.
The abundance of freely available health information online presents opportunities for empowerment. However, misinformation spreads quickly in this largely unregulated environment, posing risks such as the adoption of unhealthy behaviours and the erosion of trust in public health guidance.
Dr Sinead Keogh, Lead supervisor and Lecturer in Economics at ATU, said:
“By working directly with adolescents, this study will provide greater understanding of adolescents’ experiences with health information in the rapidly growing and evolving digital landscape.
“It will contribute to the development of age-appropriate, evidence-based interventions to support their digital health literacy to protect their health now and in the future,” she concluded.
This research is funded under RISE@ATU with supervision by Dr Sinead Keogh and Dr Ken Van Someren. RISE@ATU is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-27.
About Hannah Linney
Hannah Linney is a PhD researcher at Atlantic Technological University under the THRIVE Postgraduate Research Training Programme. Her project aims to measure digital health literacy and co-create an intervention to improve the digital health literacy of Irish adolescents. By working in partnership with adolescents, this work aims to empower youth to become active agents in their own health and is expected to have implications for public health and education policy in Ireland.
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Photo caption: Hannah Linney, PhD researcher at Atlantic Technological University (ATU).
