TY - JOUR
T1 - Feedback from the younger generation on health information shared by their parents on WeChat
T2 - types, antecedents and consequences
AU - Li, Xinyue
AU - Liu, Mandie
AU - Song, Xiaokang
AU - Zhu, Qinghua
PY - 2025/1/15
Y1 - 2025/1/15
N2 - Purpose: In China, it is prevalent for parents to share health information on WeChat and receive feedback from their children. This study aims to investigate the feedback from younger generations regarding their parents’ health information sharing. It will examine the different types of feedback, explore the factors influencing it and analyze the outcomes that result from this feedback exchange. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical findings draw on the qualitative analysis using grounded theory. This study collects data from 34 participants (17 pairs of one young person and one parent) through in-depth interviews and WeChat chat records. Then, a theoretical model was developed through open, axial and selective coding. Findings: Feedback can be classified into five types: support, correction, perfunctoriness, ostracism and rejection as well as into “Affective-Behavioral-Cognitive” dimensions. Younger generations’ feedback types are influenced by a variety of factors, including information, emotion and individual and family-related factors. Each feedback type has distinct effects, such as altering older generations’ emotional and communication responses. Originality/value: This pioneering study explores how younger generations in China perceive their parents’ health information sharing on social media. It highlights the importance of feedback in this context, providing actionable insights to enhance digital literacy among older adults, strengthen family bonds and enhance the spread of valuable and scientific health information online. © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.
AB - Purpose: In China, it is prevalent for parents to share health information on WeChat and receive feedback from their children. This study aims to investigate the feedback from younger generations regarding their parents’ health information sharing. It will examine the different types of feedback, explore the factors influencing it and analyze the outcomes that result from this feedback exchange. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical findings draw on the qualitative analysis using grounded theory. This study collects data from 34 participants (17 pairs of one young person and one parent) through in-depth interviews and WeChat chat records. Then, a theoretical model was developed through open, axial and selective coding. Findings: Feedback can be classified into five types: support, correction, perfunctoriness, ostracism and rejection as well as into “Affective-Behavioral-Cognitive” dimensions. Younger generations’ feedback types are influenced by a variety of factors, including information, emotion and individual and family-related factors. Each feedback type has distinct effects, such as altering older generations’ emotional and communication responses. Originality/value: This pioneering study explores how younger generations in China perceive their parents’ health information sharing on social media. It highlights the importance of feedback in this context, providing actionable insights to enhance digital literacy among older adults, strengthen family bonds and enhance the spread of valuable and scientific health information online. © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.
KW - Family communication
KW - Grounded theory
KW - Health information sharing
KW - Intergenerational communication
KW - WeChat
KW - Younger generations’ feedback
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214809011&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85214809011&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1108/AJIM-06-2024-0455
DO - 10.1108/AJIM-06-2024-0455
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 2050-3806
JO - Aslib Journal of Information Management
JF - Aslib Journal of Information Management
ER -