Associations Between TCM Short-Form Video Exposure and Health Maintenance Behaviors: The Mediating Roles of Outcome Expectations and Cultural Confidence

Authors

  • Zixin Zhang School of Journalism and Communication, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, China
  • DONGHWA CHUNG School of Journalism and Communication, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
  • Yanfang Meng School of Journalism and Communication, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, China
  • Jiaqi Wang School of Journalism and Communication, Xiamen University, China
  • Hua Ran School of Communication, Guizhou University, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61360/BoniGHSS262020080303

Keywords:

traditional Chinese medicine, short-form videos, social media exposure, young adults

Abstract

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has gained increasing prominence in China as a component of health literacy and self-care practices. However, how TCM-related information on social media is associated with individuals’ perceptions and behavioral tendencies remains underexplored. Drawing on cultural confidence and outcome expectations, this study examines how exposure to TCM short-form videos is associated with young Chinese adults’ (aged 18-34) willingness to adopt health maintenance behaviors. Results indicate that exposure to TCM short-form videos is positively associated with cultural confidence, outcome expectations, and willingness to adopt health maintenance behaviors. Outcome expectations significantly mediated this association. In addition, a significant serial mediation pathway was observed. These findings highlight the role of short-form video exposure in shaping health-related perceptions and behavioral tendencies, with practical implications for promoting TCM-related health practices among young Chinese adults.

References

Chen, Z., Hassan, A. B., & Ghazali, S. S. (2024). The Role of Community Education in China in the Transmission of Traditional Culture: A Systematic Literature Review. Int. J. Acad. Res. Bus. Soc. Sci, 14, 1-15.

Dalmer, N. K. (2017). Questioning reliability assessments of health information on social media. Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 105(1), 61.

Deng, Z., & Liu, S. (2017). Understanding consumer health information-seeking behavior from the perspective of the risk perception attitude framework and social support in mobile social media websites. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 105, 98–109.

Jaakkola, T., Yli-Piipari, S., Huotari, P., Watt, A., & Liukkonen, J. (2016). Fundamental movement skills and physical fitness as predictors of physical activity: A 6-year follow-up study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 26(1), 74–81.

Kirkpatrick, C. E., & Lawrie, L. L. (2024). Can videos on TikTok improve pap smear attitudes and intentions? Effects of source and autonomy support in short-form health videos. Health Communication, 39(10), 2066-2078.

Lor, M., & Gao, C. (2020). Hmong and Chinese Qualitative Research Interview Questions: Assumptions and Implications of Applying the Survey. The essential role of language in survey research, 181.

Lu, M., Duan, T., Zou, Q., Xu, J., & Pang, F. (2025). Parental beliefs, parental support, and physical activity in children with autism spectrum disorder: A network analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1–14.

Nasiru, M. A., & Md Dahlan, N. H. (2020). Exploratory factor analysis in establishing dimensions of intervention programmes among obstetric vesicovaginal fistula victims in Northern Nigeria. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(8), 1554–1560.

Niu, Z., Willoughby, J., & Zhou, R. (2021). Associations of health literacy, social media use, and self-efficacy with health information-seeking intentions among social media users in China: Cross-sectional survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2), e19134.

Oh, J., Zhuo, S., & Jin, E. (2023). Surprise of serious COVID-19 vaccination messages on TikTok: The effect of expectancy violation on message effectiveness. Science Communication, 45(5), 596–626.

Pu, J., Mei, H., Lei, L., Li, D., Zhao, J., Li, B., Wang, H., Ma, Y., & Du, X. B. (2021). Knowledge of medical professionals, their practices, and their attitudes toward traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019: A survey in Sichuan, China. PLOS ONE, 16(3), e0234855.

Radević, I., Dimovski, V., Lojpur, A., & Colnar, S. (2023). Quality of healthcare services in focus: The role of knowledge transfer, hierarchical organizational structure, and trust. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 21(3), 525–536.

Raquepo, T. M., Sadeghi, S., Truong, T., & Rao, B. (2023). 44382 The Rise of Traditional Chinese Medicine Promoted by Social Media in Western Dermatology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 89(3), AB237.

Richaud, M. C., Mesurado, B., & Lemos, V. (2013). Links between perception of parental actions and prosocial behavior in early adolescence. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 22(5), 637-646.

Russo, A. (2011). Transformations in cultural communication: Social media, cultural exchange, and creative connections. Curator: The Museum Journal, 54(3), 327–346.

Wang, D., Lu, J., Zhou, J., & Wong, V. K. W. (2024). Useful or not? The discussion of traditional Chinese medicine to treat COVID-19 on a Chinese social networking site. BMJ Global Health, 9(6).

Wang, X., Chen, J., Feng, M., Zhuang, M., Wang, J., Zhang, L., ... & Chen, H. (2023). Demand and influencing factors of “Internet+ Traditional Chinese Medicine” home nursing service for older adult patients with chronic diseases: a mixed research perspective. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1271082.

Yao, L., Li, Y., Lian, Q., Sun, J., Zhao, S., & Wang, P. (2022). Health information sharing on social media: quality assessment of short videos about chronic kidney disease. BMC nephrology, 23(1), 378.

ZCX. (2023). Promoting the protection, inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine. http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/index/content/2023-11/14/content_8926931.html

Zeballos Rivas, D. R., Lopez Jaldin, M. L., Nina Canaviri, B., Portugal Escalante, L. F., Alanes Fernández, A. M., & Aguilar Ticona, J. P. (2021). Social media exposure, risk perception, preventive behaviors and attitudes during the COVID-19 epidemic in La Paz, Bolivia: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 16(1), e0245859.

Zhou, F. (2023). Traditional Knowledge, science and China's pride: how a TCM social media account legitimizes TCM treatment of Covid-19. Social Semiotics, 33(4), 697-713.

Zhu, T., Wu, Q., & Guenier, A. (2025). Transcultural dissemination of Traditional Chinese Medicine through tourism: Pathways, challenges, and innovations. New Techno-Humanities.

Younger, J., Gandhi, V., Hubbard, E., & Mackey, S. (2012). Development of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS): A tool for measuring patient outcome expectancy in clinical trials. Clinical Trials, 9(6), 767–776.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-25

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Associations Between TCM Short-Form Video Exposure and Health Maintenance Behaviors: The Mediating Roles of Outcome Expectations and Cultural Confidence. (2026). Journal of Global Humanities and Social Sciences, 7(3), 171-177. https://doi.org/10.61360/BoniGHSS262020080303

Similar Articles

21-30 of 152

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.