The mediating role of attitudes to aging in the relationship between information overload, cyberchondria, and influenza vaccine hesitancy among Chinese older adults

Background In the context of a rapidly aging global population, influenza vaccine hesitancy among Chinese older adults remains a critical public health issue. Concurrently, the proliferation of digital health information has raised concerns about the negative effects of information overload and cyberchondria. However, the psychological pathways linking these digital phenomena to vaccine hesitancy, particularly for older adults, remain underexplored. Objectives This study aims to examine the association between health information overload on excessive online search (cyberchondria) and influenza vaccine hesitancy among Chinese older internet users. Grounded in the Stereotype Embodiment Theory (SET), the study specifically examines the mediating role of self-perceptions of aging. Methods A self-reported online questionnaire was distributed to 791 Chinese internet users aged 55 or older. The research hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS. Results Results indicate that health information overload was significantly correlated with cyberchondria (β = 0.501, p < 0.001), psychological growth (β = −0.236, p < 0.001), physical change (β = −0.229, p < 0.001), and psychosocial loss (β = 0.254, p < 0.001). Similarly, cyberchondria was a significant predictor of psychological growth (β = −0.184, p < 0.001), physical change (β = −0.312, p < 0.001), and psychosocial loss (β = 0.285, p < 0.001). Finally, physical change (β = −0.209, p < 0.001) and psychosocial loss (β = 0.247, p < 0.001) showed a significant statistical relationship with vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions The findings highlight the critical importance of fostering positive aging attitudes in health communication strategies. Health practitioners and policymakers should develop age-friendly digital environments and educational campaigns that not only provide accurate information but also empower older adults to perceive aging more rationally, thereby potentially encouraging proactive health behaviors.