Comparing transient and non-travelling students’ health information-seeking behaviours during COVID-19: A study of Chinese international students in Australia and China

When transient migrants such as international students move to new countries, they are often confronted with new digital sources, digital environments and new communication norms. In the realm of health, this is even more complex and challenging because localized health information can often be the difference between well-supported individuals and those who might be isolated. The 2020–22 pandemic presented an opportunity to study the differences in health information-seeking behaviours of Chinese students who were transient and studied overseas vs. those who remained in China. Many Chinese international students had to stay in China to study online due to restricted borders during the pandemic, while others were already in their host countries. Therefore, this study investigated the experiences of 22 Chinese international students enrolled in Australian universities. Of these, ten were located in China and twelve were in Australia. The participants attended semi-structured interviews through Zoom. Thematic data analysis identified four key themes that highlight differences in students’ online health information experiences, related to their location, as well as the impacts of their new environments and social networks. Based on themes, a model was proposed to explain the transition of Chinese international students’ online behaviour during the pandemic.