General Information

Amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, digital health literacy (DHL) has become an indispensable resource in promoting health and well-being. DHL refers to the skills to search, select, appraise, and apply online health information and health care–related digital applications to improve psychological well-being. Sufficient DHL levels empower people to actively partake in managing their health by promoting access and appropriate utilization of accurate health information.1 Most students rely extensively on digital platforms for COVID-19 information but their psychological well-being has been one of the most affected aspects due to the pandemic. While DHL is critical for students’ psychological well-being, extant research indicates that socioeconomic status (SES) can affect students’ DHL. However, this relationship has not yet been tested. SES comprises income/economic power, social networks, educational attainment, and other characteristics that define an individual or a group’s standing in society relative to others. SES is theorized as a fundamental cause of health. In this study, we examined the association between DHL (in relation to COVID-19) and psychological well-being of university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored the moderating role of SES in this relationship.