Beyond Rationality: Information Overload and Biased Perceptions of Lung Cancer Screening Among Middle-Aged Adults

Lung cancer is the most common cancer with high mortality. This study examined the impact of information overload on biased perceptions and lung cancer screening intention. An online survey of middle-aged Chinese adults (<i>n</i>=534) revealed three main findings: (a) information overload was positively associated with excessive fear, perceived barriers, and distrust in healthcare providers; (b) optimistic bias, excessive fear, and perceived barriers were negatively related to lung cancer screening intention; and (c) interpersonal communication was identified as a key factor in mitigating information overload. Our study highlighted that, beyond rational decision-making, biased perceptions also exerted significant negative effects on health-protective behaviors. This finding complemented the Health Belief Model (HBM) and provided practical insights for improving cancer screening participation.