Social Media, Health Consciousness, and Cultural Influences on Sugar Reduction Behaviors in Chinese Youth: Extending the Stimulus-Organism-Response Model

This study demonstrates that social media effectively promotes SRBs among Chinese youth. By embedding cultural influences, such as FC, alongside enabling competencies, such as EHL, in an extended SOR model, we enhance our understanding of social media's influence on health behaviors. The findings highlight cultural nuances in health communication and position the enhanced SOR model as a framework for health promotion. Furthermore, the study underscores the primary mediating effect of HC-surpassing that of conformity-while also delineating the moderating roles of FC and EHL, offering actionable insights for digital-age public health strategies.