More than search? Informational and participatory eHealth behaviors

• Internet use is related to informational and participatory eHealth behaviors.
• Facebook interaction is only related to participatory eHealth behaviors.
• eHealth literacy has a positive main effect on informational eHealth behaviors.
• It mediates the relationship between mental health status and eHealth behaviors.
• There are significant eHealth disparities by health status, gender, and class.

Few studies in the eHealth literature have paid attention to participatory eHealth behaviors. Addressing this gap, the present study examines how informational and participatory eHealth behaviors are related to eHealth literacy, Internet use and Facebook interaction, as well as user characteristics. Drawing on a sample of college students (N = 540), results from Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis show that eHealth literacy has a positive direct effect on informational eHealth behaviors. It also serves as a mediator suppressing the negative relationship between excellent mental health status and eHealth behaviors. While both instrumental Internet use and Facebook interaction are related to participatory eHealth behaviors, only instrumental Internet use is associated with informational eHealth behaviors. There are significant eHealth disparities by health status, gender, and class. Implications for health communication and promotion are discussed.