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Health Information Seeking as a Cognitive Coping Mechanism in Stunting Prevention among Mothers Husodo, Besar Tirto; Widjanarko, Bagoes; Prabawani, Bulan; Nugraha, Hari Susanta
Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology VOL 15 NO 1 MARCH 2026
Publisher : Universitas Ahmad Dahlan

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Abstract

Stunting remains a persistent public health concern in urban Semarang, Central Java; however, mothers’ coping processes are still weakly operationalized in prior research. While the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) offers a useful lens for understanding how people make health-related decisions, it is better understood as a social–cognitive decision-making framework than a full coping model, and the real-world links between seeking health information, responding to it, and taking action to prevent stunting have rarely been put to the test. This study set out to explore how maternal health information seeking, viewed here as a form of cognitive coping, relates to stunting prevention practices, drawing on the TRA to understand how gathering information might lead mothers to take deliberate preventive steps. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 337 mothers from Central Java, Indonesia. Structured questionnaires were used to assess health information-seeking behavior, social media utilization, family health communication, and stunting prevention practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Most mothers reported moderate to high information-seeking (51.6% moderate; 46.9% high) and high prevention practices (66.2%). Information seeking was strongly associated with stunting prevention practices (χ² = 98.612, df = 4, p < .001). Social media use was also significantly related to information seeking (χ² = 116.428, df = 4, p < .001). In addition, 73.9% received information related to stunting during pregnancy, and 90.2% reported intensive family health communication. These findings suggest that health information seeking functions as an effective cognitive coping mechanism that shapes maternal stunting prevention behaviors. Digital health interventions leveraging social media and strengthening family communication may enhance maternal coping and improve prevention outcomes in the future.
Co-Authors Achmad Ulil Khodlro Adila Yeni Rosy D. Adisti Nurul Aulia Adityan Dwi Purnomo Agtriani, Nadia Nur Agung Meiyanto S Agus Hermani Aisyah, Hanun Alifa Noor Amelia Amalia, Andrea Putri Amilia Riyaningrum, Amilia Andi Wijayanto Andi Wijayanto Andiani Ken Astri Amanda Angga Maulana Angga Setyawan A, Angga Setyawan Anis Qomariyah Anita Ariyani Apriatni Endang Prihatini Apriatni Endang Prihatini Ardhian Sasmita Ari Pradhanawati Ari Pradhanawati Ari Pradhanawati Arief Darmawan Aulya Rachman Avi Puspita Desifrida Bagoes Widjanarko Besar Tirto Husodo Bunga Maharani Christina Dessy Permatasari Cintia Maharani Putri, Cintia Maharani Dalila, Ghina Khansa Darmasari, Ria Dessy Sembiring Elsa Wilna Endang Larasati Erinda Fauzia Fandi Ichwan Sidqi Fania Mutiara Savitri Fauzan Ramadhani Fauziyah, Zahra Putri Febrisa Pawestri Manggiasih, Febrisa Pawestri Fernanda Florencia Pramono Firman Aji Sasongko Fitria Apriliani Yulinda Fitriyadi Fitriyadi Frederick Ido Hamonangan Gigih Wahyu Utomo Handoyo Djoko Waluyo Hapy Septia Nugraheni Hari Susanta Nugraha Hari Susanta Nugraha Hari Susanta Nugraha Henny Diana Erlany Hikmawan, Muhammad Rifqi Hilda Atika Kusumawardhani Hindarsah, Ida I Ketut Suada Indi Djastuti Intan Hidayatillah Isna Armawati Istiq Meidea, Zhurna Auliya Jamadi Jessica Talenta Agustina Tambunan Jihan Mirta Puasantika Jonas Niko Nugroho Karen Arum Septiani, Karen Arum Karimah, Luthfiah Kartika Putri Kasamira, Dhiya Alya Khaerudin Khaerudin Laely Hidayah Lutfitona Ridho Pambudi M. V. I. Ron Olivia Mega Christy Maharani, Rania Rizqika Maria Ursula Mai Cruz Maria Ursula Mai Cruz Maulidia, Ana Mayranni Rizky Puspitasari Mia Darmianti Muhammad Ashari Muhammad Habib Mahendra Muhammad Istifau Maulana Muhammad Shendy Alvian Muslim, Muhammad Agil Naili Farida Naili Farida Natalia Sari Pujiastuti Nawazirul Lubis Ngatno Ngatno Nikho Ardhyanto Nurita Hertina Novia Sari Nurul Ulfa Zahro Oktaria Diyah Pratiwi, Oktaria Diyah Ompusunggu, Martalina Zwita Pamor Nugroho Pinem, Robetmi Jumpakita Pinka Morina Pratama, Adidya Rangga Prawata Hadi, Sudharto Pritta Aprilia Hapsari Pujiastuti, Natalia Sari Putra, Ijai Pratama Rahman, Baskoro Saputra Ratih Nur Setyaningsih Renata, Tasya Rizky Reni Shinta Dewi Renita Helia Reski Pratiwi Rifa&#039;atussa&#039;adah Rifa&#039;atussa&#039;adah Rio Sri Whisnu Sjahputra Rizky, Setya Anugrah Robetmi Jumpakita Pinem Rossi, Figo Fadlillah Rosyid Wasiun Saikoo Muhammad, Saikoo Sandy Salsabila Khaerunissa Sant, Alifia Safira Rahmadanti Saputro, Hashfi Prasetyo Whido Sari Listyorini Sari Listyorini Saryadi Saryadi Saryadi Saryadi Sebastian Mardeta Ferandi Sekar Widyasari Putri Sendhang Nurseto Septia Caesari, Septia Sianturi, Nathania Reandra Silaen, Elsa Singgih Priambodo Slamet Santoso Sri Suryoko Sri Suryoko Sudharto P Hadi Sudharto Prawata Hadi Sudharto Prawata Hadi Sulistia Suwondo Sungkar, Jessica Valery Tasa Ushuaia Tasa Ushuaia Tasa Ushuaia Tia Agustina Faricha Very Torganda Tampubolon Wahyu Hidayat Wahyu Hidayat Wahyudin, Cecep Waluyo, Handojo Djoko Washillah, Muhammad Hafidz Wibowo, Krisna Adi Widayanto Widayanto Widiartanto Widiartanto Widiartanto Widiartanto Widiartanto Widiartanto Wiranti M.S Hutabarat Yassar, Muchamad Chico Demas Yudha Widyantoro Prabowo Yudhistira, Indra Yunita Kartikasari Yuwanto Yuwanto Zahro, Nurul Ulfa