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2025 , Vol. 69 >Issue 19: 74 - 86

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2025.19.007

RESEARCH PAPERS

Investigating the Influence of Correcting Health Misinformation on Trust Repair and Information-Seeking Intentions in College Students

  • Zhao Zerui ,
  • Xu Xiaojuan ,
  • Luo Yaling ,
  • Zhao Yueyan
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  • 1 School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065;
    2 School of Management, Anhui University, Hefei 230039
Zhao Zerui, Doctoral Candidate; Xu Xiaojuan, Associate Professor, PhD, Corresponding Author, E-mail: xxjksks@126.com; Luo Yaling, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor; Zhao Yueyan, Doctoral Candidate.

Received date: 2024-08-28

  Revised date: 2024-12-19

  Online published: 2025-09-12

Supported by

This work is supported by the project of National Social Science Fund of China, titled “Research on the Governance of Information Disability of the Elderly in China Under the Background of Digital Society” (Grant No. 21BSH109).

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Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] The openness of social media platforms has facilitated the emergence and rapid spread of a large amount of health misinformation. Investigating the mechanisms by which the correction of health misinformation affects the trust repair and information-seeking intentions of college student users is essential for reducing the negative effects of such information, optimizing health information services, and regaining the trust of users. [Method/Process] Based on trust theory and self-validation theory, scenario experiments were designed for social corrections and algorithmic corrections, and data were collected through surveys. Non-parametric tests, structural equation modeling, and Bootstrap methods were employed to examine the relationships between main effects, mediating effects, and moderating effects among variables. [Result/Conclusion] Trust repair positively influences the willingness to seek health information. Social corrections and algorithmic corrections can effectively restore the trust of college students, with cognitive validation and affective validation playing distinct mediating roles. Social corrections emphasize the predominance of affective validation, while algorithmic corrections highlight the predominance of cognitive validation. Additionally, digital health literacy negatively moderates the influence of algorithmic correction on cognitive validation. This research enriches the theoretical foundation for trust repair of college students in the context of health misinformation and offers new insights into the management of health misinformation on social media platforms.

Key words： health misinformation; trust repair; self-validation theory

Cite this article

Zhao Zerui , Xu Xiaojuan , Luo Yaling , Zhao Yueyan . Investigating the Influence of Correcting Health Misinformation on Trust Repair and Information-Seeking Intentions in College Students[J]. Library and Information Service, 2025 , 69(19) : 74 -86 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2025.19.007

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