Seeking alcohol information on the Internet

Joinson, A.N. and Banyard, P. ORCID: 0000-0003-2527-0755, 2003. Seeking alcohol information on the Internet. Aslib Proceedings, 55, pp. 313-319. ISSN 0001-253X

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Abstract

It has been argued that people may be more willing to seek potentially threatening information on the Internet than they would in ‘real life’ (Joinson and Banyard, 2002). For alcohol drinkers, potentially threatening information includes diagnostic information on the amount they drink, and information about the negative effects of alcohol consumption. In the present study, participants with varying levels of alcohol intake and plans for change chose four alcohol-related articles to read (from twelve) using either the world-wide web (WWW) or pen and paper. Results showed that drinkers not currently reducing their drinking were more likely to seek diagnostic, potentially threatening anti-drinking information via the WWW compared to when seeking paper-based information. Drinkers either contemplating or engaging in efforts to reduce their drinking sought pro-drinking information on the WWW, and anti-drinking information when using pen and paper. The potential role of the Internet, and perceived anonymity, in health promotion is discussed.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Aslib Proceedings
Creators:	Joinson, A.N. and Banyard, P.
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Place of Publication:	Bradford
Date:	2003
Volume:	55
ISSN:	0001-253X
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1108/00012530310498888 DOI
Rights:	© 2003 Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 10:45
Last Modified:	07 Jul 2020 10:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17732

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