Medical information security in health streaming media and university students’ autonomous sports participation: the mechanisms of self-awareness, self-efficacy, and data trust

With the widespread adoption of health-related Health Streaming applications, users face data privacy and security issues while accessing sports information. This study explores how health Streaming information access and self-awareness influence autonomous sports participation among Chinese university students from a psychosocial perspective, focusing on the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating effect of data trust. Based on user satisfaction theory and self-determination theory, this study constructs a theoretical framework integrating psychological and data trust dimensions. Data from 485 undergraduate and graduate students was collected through a questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that health Streaming information access does not directly predict autonomous sports participation, but self-efficacy fully mediates the relationship between the two; self-awareness positively promotes autonomous participation, while self-efficacy plays a partial mediating role. Furthermore, data trust significantly moderates the relationship between health Streaming information access and self-efficacy: the positive impact of information access on self-efficacy is stronger in the high-trust group. This study expands the application of user satisfaction and self-determination theories in the digital health context and provides practical insights for data security management of health Streaming platforms and the integration of sports education in universities.