Everyday health communication experiences of college students

Objective: The authors examinde college students' day-to-day health communication experiences. Participants: A convenience sample of 109 midwestern university students participated in the study. Methods: The participants completed health communication diaries for 2 weeks, generating 2.185 records. Frequent health topics included nutrition and diet, minor health concerns, risky health practices, and body fitness. Results: Approsximately 27% of health -related information or advice. Interpersonal venues face-to-(face, telephone, and e-mail) were evident in about 75% of the records, which were dominated by exchanges with friends and family members. The authors found modest interactions of topic channel, and purpose. Conclusions: Congruent with the uses and gratifications theory, the authors found that satisfaction with and perceived impack of health communication experiences varied by topoic, channel, relationship, and purpose.