Digital health literacy and mental health well-being mediated by anxiety and moderated by access to healthcare

Abstract Background Digital health literacy has been known as a key factor influencing mental well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship, including access to healthcare and roles of anxiety, remain understudied. Methods SPSS was used to analyse data and test the hypotheses. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 256 participants through convenience sampling across multiple institutions. Results Anxiety in this study is found to mediate the relationship between digital health literacy and mental well-being, while healthcare access moderated this relationship, enhancing the positive influence of digital health literacy. Conclusion This study highlights the need for health promotion strategies that integrate mental health support, digital literacy, and accessible healthcare services to enhance mental health outcomes in university students. Digital health literacy eloquently contributes to mental well-being, particularly when anxiety is managed and adequate healthcare access is available.