Background: Outbreaks of influenza-like illness (ILI) pose ongoing public health challenges, prompting widespread demand for timely and accessible health information. TikTok, a leading short video platform, has emerged as an overarching channel for disseminating health-related content, particularly in mainland China. While previous studies have examined health communication on social media, few have integrated complementary theoretical frameworks to understand how user perceptions and motivations jointly influence health behaviors. Objective: This study integrates the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine the communicative actions and intentions of Chinese TikTok users to adopt health protective behaviors in response to ILI. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in China between June and July 2023 using convenience and snowball sampling. A total of 1109 valid responses were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Constructs from STOPS (problem recognition, constraint recognition, involvement recognition, situational motivation, and communicative action in problem solving) and TAM (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude) were measured alongside risk perception and intention to engage in protective behaviors. Results: Perceived usefulness (β=.344; P<.001) and ease of use (β=.359; P<.001) positively influenced the attitude toward using TikTok. Risk perception (β=.050, P=.02) had a small but significant impact on attitude. Situational motivation was positively predicted by risk perception (β=.154; P<.001), problem recognition (β=.153; P<.001), and involvement recognition (β=.248; P<.001) but negatively predicted by constraint recognition (β=−.265; P<.001). Both attitude (β=.390; P<.001) and situational motivation (β=.471; P<.001) significantly influenced communicative action, which in turn predicted intention to practice protective behaviors (β=.570; P<.001). Mediation analyses confirmed the partial mediating roles of attitude and situational motivation. Conclusions: TikTok is an effective platform for public health communication in China, particularly for ILI-related content. Integrating the STOPS and TAM provides a robust framework for explaining how user perceptions and motivations translate into digital engagement and health protective intentions. These findings suggest that interventions should not only enhance technological usability and credibility but also tailor content to elevate perceived personal relevance and reduce psychological or contextual constraints. Future public health campaigns can benefit from engaging influencers, using participatory content formats, and targeting specific motivational cues to increase user involvement in health communication and behavioral change. Caution is warranted in generalizing these results because of the culturally specific and demographically skewed nature of the sample.
1 December 2023 in International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences
Guided by Agenda Cutting theory, this study examines the pattern of media coverage on issues portrayed in Tamil newspapers and Facebook during Malaysian General Election 13. A total of 1309 news articles from Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban and 111 postings on MIC’s Facebook were identified and examined during the election campaign period from April 20 – May 6, 2013, specifically just before and soon after the election. A total of 127 Facebook accounts of MIC’s candidates for state and parliamentary constituencies were examined during the same period. Findings show that out of the 17 examined issues eight issues (i.e., crime, social, environment, national unity, nationalism, health issues, international relations and immigrants) were not reported by these Indian dailies. A similar result can also be found on MIC’s parliamentary and state seat candidates’ Facebook. Findings from this study draw a conclusion that without a flawed agenda cutting strategy, the MIC could have garnered valuable electoral votes during its GE13 campaign.
1 April 2023 in International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences
International students in Malaysian universities face uncertainty and anxiety toward a multi-new culture, a must-encountered cultural shock. This study investigated the relationship between superficial causes of AUM theory and uncertainty and anxiety in a high-context culture. In this study, 388 international students from different faculties were chosen through a method called stratified random sampling, which sampled two public universities with the largest number and richest nationalities of international students. The researchers used a self-administered questionnaire to gather information from the participants, which was analyzed by AMOS and applied to the validation of theoretical construct through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and other statistical methods were employed to analyze the data and test seven hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that five superficial causes affect the management of uncertainty and anxiety in AUM theory. The results of this study have important implications for Malaysian public universities in terms of understanding the factors that influence uncertainty and anxiety management among students.
1 April 2024 in International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences