@article{ART003331934},
author={JunHee Lee and Soo Jin Kim},
title={Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control},
journal={Health Communication Research},
issn={2093-2707},
year={2026},
volume={25},
number={1},
pages={115-148},
doi={10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115}
TY - JOUR
AU - JunHee Lee
AU - Soo Jin Kim
TI - Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control
JO - Health Communication Research
PY - 2026
VL - 25
IS - 1
PB - Korea Health Communication Association
SP - 115
EP - 148
SN - 2093-2707
AB - With the spread of digital technologies, health behavior-related messages are continuously delivered through smartphone applications, wearable devices, and social media platforms. Although digital environments have improved access to health information and personalization, they have also intensified repetitive and cumulative exposure, potentially depleting recipients’ cognitive and emotional resources. This study examined the effect of perceived overexposure to digital health messages on information avoidance behavior, focusing on the sequential mediating roles of communication fatigue and emotional exhaustion and the moderating role of perceived behavioral control. Data from an online survey of 300 Korean adults were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis and conditional process analyses with the PROCESS macro. The results showed that perceived overexposure significantly predicted information avoidance behavior. Communication fatigue and emotional exhaustion sequentially mediated this relationship. Perceived behavioral control significantly moderated the effect of overexposure on communication fatigue, with stronger effects among individuals reporting higher control, suggesting psychological reactance.
KW - Digital health messages;Perceived Message overexposure;Communication fatigue; Emotional exhaustion;Information avoidance;Perceived behavioral control
DO - 10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
ER -
JunHee Lee and Soo Jin Kim. (2026). Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control. Health Communication Research, 25(1), 115-148.
JunHee Lee and Soo Jin Kim. 2026, "Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control", Health Communication Research, vol.25, no.1 pp.115-148. Available from: doi:10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
JunHee Lee, Soo Jin Kim "Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control" Health Communication Research 25.1 pp.115-148 (2026) : 115.
JunHee Lee, Soo Jin Kim. Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control. 2026; 25(1), 115-148. Available from: doi:10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
JunHee Lee and Soo Jin Kim. "Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control" Health Communication Research 25, no.1 (2026) : 115-148.doi: 10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
JunHee Lee; Soo Jin Kim. Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control. Health Communication Research, 25(1), 115-148. doi: 10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
JunHee Lee; Soo Jin Kim. Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control. Health Communication Research. 2026; 25(1) 115-148. doi: 10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
JunHee Lee, Soo Jin Kim. Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control. 2026; 25(1), 115-148. Available from: doi:10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
JunHee Lee and Soo Jin Kim. "Perceived Digital Health Message Overexposure and Information Avoidance: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Communication Fatigue and Emotional Exhaustion and the Moderating Effect of Perceived Behavioral Control" Health Communication Research 25, no.1 (2026) : 115-148.doi: 10.24172/hcr.2026.25.1.115
