The impact of digital and E-health literacy on college students' mental health: the chain mediation effect of internet addiction and sleep quality

There can be no assurance about the mental health of college students in today's digital information age without their personal digital health literacy. The current academic studies on this mechanism are in their infancy. This paper uses cognitive behavioral theory and stress response theory to build a chain mediation model of internet addiction and sleep quality. The study recruited participants from a pool of 407 college students and provided the students with standard scales, such as the e-HEALS, AMHLAQ, IAT, and ISI-C. The researchers used the SPSS 27.0 software to analyze the data and tested the mediation hypothesis using the Bootstrap method. The findings indicate a positive relationship between digital health literacy and mental health among college students. Additionally, the study found that internet addiction and sleep quality served as mediators. The complete chain was defined as digital health literacy → internet addiction → sleep quality, with the total indirect effect on college mental health measured at 0.6304. The study helped fill an academic void regarding digital health literacy. It demonstrated that internet addiction can be reduced and sleep quality and college students' mental health can be improved. The study has both academic and professional merit. The study aids colleges in the application of digital intervention strategies and the development of mental health literacy among college students.