An Analysis of the Relationship between Individual Psychological Variables and Information-seeking Behavior: Implications for Wearable Device Use and Fitness Activities

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure the relationship between individual psychological characteristics including self-esteem, privacy concern, positive emotion, and negative emotion and information-seeking behavior, as well as the relationship between information-seeking behavior and life satisfaction. Methods: Data for this study originated from Korea Media Panel Survey Statistics 2021. Respondents included 10,154 persons; for this study, data for 356 respondents aged ≥ 20 years who said 'I am using wearable device for fitness purpose' were analyzed. Results: Self-esteem, privacy concern, and negative emotion affected information-seeking behavior. Moreover, information-seeking behavior affected personal, relational, and community aspects of life satisfaction. Conclusion: These findings highlight that individual psychological characteristics are factors that affect behavior during information searching through media. Furthermore, information-seeking behavior is related to life satisfaction. This study emphasizes the importance of judgment, doubting, and confirmation behavior as influences on wearable fitness device users' quality-of-life in the changing digital environment.