RESEARCH PAPERS

Impact of Privacy Concerns on Users' Information Suppression Behavior in Online Health Communities

  • Zhang Kun ,
  • Chen Xuening ,
  • Cheng Ying'ao ,
  • Wang Jianya ,
  • Chu Jiewang
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  • 1 School of Information Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001;
    2 School of Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001;
    3 School of Management Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin 300222;
    4 School of Management, Anhui University, Hefei 230000
Liu Bing, Professor, PhD, Doctoral Supervisor, E-mail: brother_lb@126.com;Liu Yuhong, Doctoral Candidate;Li Xin, Master’s Candidate;Jiang Hong, Master’s Candidate.

Received date: 2025-02-11

  Revised date: 2025-06-08

  Online published: 2026-04-30

Supported by

This work is supported by the project of 2025 “Open Competition Mechanism” project of the Sichuan Network Culture Research Center, titled “Research on Network Culture Consumption Behavior and Governance Strategies Driven by Big Data and AI” (Grant No. WLWH25-JB02); and the project of the Center for Psychological and Behavioral Science (Key Research Base for Philosophy and Social Sciences in Deyang), titled “Research on the Mechanisms of Formation and Intervention Strategies of Information Suppression Behavior in Online Health Communities” (Grant No, XLYXW2025005).

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] Investigating the impact mechanism of user concerns on information suppression behavior in online health communities aims to provide a theoretical basis for the “mitigating suppression and increasing the flow” transformation, and to promote the dissemination of health information. [Method/Process] Grounded in the cognitive-affective personality system theory, and combined with protective motivation theory, self-monitoring theory, face theory, and regulatory focus theory, this study formulates hypotheses regarding the paths among latent variables, such as privacy concerns, evaluation apprehension, and prevention focus. A model of the impact mechanism of privacy concerns on information suppression behavior in online health communities is constructed and empirically tested. [Result/Conclusion] In online health communities, privacy concerns, evaluation apprehension, and prevention focus all have a significant positive effect on user information suppression behavior. Evaluation apprehension and prevention focus play a sequential mediating role in the relationship between privacy concerns and information suppression behavior. User privacy concerns have no significant effect on prevention focus. Drawing on the research findings, targeted intervention strategies are proposed to regulate information suppression behavior in online health communities, including strengthening privacy protection settings, improving community evaluation mechanisms, and refining the classification of personality traits.

Cite this article

Zhang Kun , Chen Xuening , Cheng Ying'ao , Wang Jianya , Chu Jiewang . Impact of Privacy Concerns on Users' Information Suppression Behavior in Online Health Communities[J]. Library and Information Service, 2026 , 70(9) : 57 -67 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2026.09.005

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