Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia

Adolescents may not necessarily have a specific mental health challenge to seek information on mental health. They may be genuinely curious on how to better understand these issues, especially when mental health is being discussed in school, among peers and with parents. The purpose of this study wa...

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Main Authors: Tatjana Gazibara, Jelena Cakic, Milica Cakic, Anita Grgurevic, Tatjana Pekmezovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125100265/type/journal_article
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author Tatjana Gazibara
Jelena Cakic
Milica Cakic
Anita Grgurevic
Tatjana Pekmezovic
author_facet Tatjana Gazibara
Jelena Cakic
Milica Cakic
Anita Grgurevic
Tatjana Pekmezovic
author_sort Tatjana Gazibara
collection DOAJ
description Adolescents may not necessarily have a specific mental health challenge to seek information on mental health. They may be genuinely curious on how to better understand these issues, especially when mental health is being discussed in school, among peers and with parents. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among adolescents. A total of 702 high school students from Belgrade, Serbia, participated in the study and filled in an anonymous questionnaire about sociodemographics, digital behaviors and the Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The prevalence of seeking information about mental health in our study sample was 23.5% (165/702). The multivariate model showed that having a lower school performance, lower eHEALS score and browsing health blogs, social media and websites run by physicians and health institutions were independently associated with online information seeking about mental health. Additionally, searching for online information about psychoactive substances, bullying and medications was independently associated with online information seeking about mental health among adolescents. Adolescents are familiar with a variety of sources of online health information, but choose specific online platforms to read about mental health. These platforms could be utilized to promote mental well-being in high schools.
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
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series Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health
spelling doaj-art-a31ec2d3b58a4a92b64e863f64c7066d2025-08-26T06:57:14ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512025-01-011210.1017/gmh.2025.10026Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, SerbiaTatjana Gazibara0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9621-8375Jelena Cakic1Milica Cakic2Anita Grgurevic3Tatjana Pekmezovic4Institute of Epidemiology, https://ror.org/0285t0292Faculty of Medicine, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Epidemiology, https://ror.org/0285t0292Faculty of Medicine, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Epidemiology, https://ror.org/0285t0292Faculty of Medicine, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Epidemiology, https://ror.org/0285t0292Faculty of Medicine, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Epidemiology, https://ror.org/0285t0292Faculty of Medicine, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaAdolescents may not necessarily have a specific mental health challenge to seek information on mental health. They may be genuinely curious on how to better understand these issues, especially when mental health is being discussed in school, among peers and with parents. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among adolescents. A total of 702 high school students from Belgrade, Serbia, participated in the study and filled in an anonymous questionnaire about sociodemographics, digital behaviors and the Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The prevalence of seeking information about mental health in our study sample was 23.5% (165/702). The multivariate model showed that having a lower school performance, lower eHEALS score and browsing health blogs, social media and websites run by physicians and health institutions were independently associated with online information seeking about mental health. Additionally, searching for online information about psychoactive substances, bullying and medications was independently associated with online information seeking about mental health among adolescents. Adolescents are familiar with a variety of sources of online health information, but choose specific online platforms to read about mental health. These platforms could be utilized to promote mental well-being in high schools.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125100265/type/journal_articleadolescentseducationhigh schoolinternetmental healthonline information seeking
spellingShingle Tatjana Gazibara
Jelena Cakic
Milica Cakic
Anita Grgurevic
Tatjana Pekmezovic
Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia
Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health
adolescents
education
high school
internet
mental health
online information seeking
title Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia
title_full Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia
title_fullStr Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia
title_short Factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in Belgrade, Serbia
title_sort factors associated with online information seeking about mental health among high school students in belgrade serbia
topic adolescents
education
high school
internet
mental health
online information seeking
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125100265/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT tatjanagazibara factorsassociatedwithonlineinformationseekingaboutmentalhealthamonghighschoolstudentsinbelgradeserbia
AT jelenacakic factorsassociatedwithonlineinformationseekingaboutmentalhealthamonghighschoolstudentsinbelgradeserbia
AT milicacakic factorsassociatedwithonlineinformationseekingaboutmentalhealthamonghighschoolstudentsinbelgradeserbia
AT anitagrgurevic factorsassociatedwithonlineinformationseekingaboutmentalhealthamonghighschoolstudentsinbelgradeserbia
AT tatjanapekmezovic factorsassociatedwithonlineinformationseekingaboutmentalhealthamonghighschoolstudentsinbelgradeserbia