Health Consumers’ Emotional Responses Toward Asthma Videos on YouTube Are Influenced by Time Since Posting, Number of Tags, Subject of Content and the Emotional Tone

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Publisher

Wiley

Source Publication

Health Information and Libraries Journal

Source ISSN

1471-1834

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1111/hir.12570

Abstract

Background

Social media platforms and user-generated videos have become important channels and resources for health consumers seeking information and learning about asthma management.

Objectives

This study examined the characteristics of asthma-related videos on YouTube, health consumers' emotional responses to these videos and explored the video attributes influencing their emotional responses and attitudes toward asthma-related content.

Methods

The study employed manual subject analysis, sentiment analysis, descriptive statistical analysis and regression modelling.

Results

The most popular content categories were Treatment, Prevention and Cause & Pathophysiology. Consumer interactions confirmed interest in Treatment. The time since posting, the number of tags, the subject of content and the general tone (positive/neutral/negative) of a video influenced whether it elicited positive or negative emotions.

Discussion

The consumer interactions might indicate interest in a content category, but the analysis might show negative attitudes to that content. ‘Sign & Symptom’ content can reduce the positive emotional responses, and ‘Cause & Pathophysiology’ content can raise the negative emotional responses, thus reducing the consumers' expression of positive attitudes in different ways.

Conclusion

The content priorities of video creators and health consumers differed, and keeping the emotional tone positive appears important for fostering positive emotional responses and attitudes.

Comments

Health Information and Libraries Journal, 2025. Online before print. DOI.

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