Unpacking Chinese Women’s Social Media Engagement and Cancer Screening Intention: Roles of Reflective Integration, Cancer Knowledge, and Psychological Distance

Cervical cancer screening is acknowledged as an extremely cost-effective method for preventing cervical cancer in women aged 25 to 65. While social media engagement plays a crucial role in health communication campaigns, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Utilizing the cognitive mediation model (CMM) and psychological distance theory, this study engaged a national sample of Chinese women (M_age = 38.68, SD = 8.85) to explore the relationship between social media engagement and cervical cancer screening, with reflective integration, cervical cancer knowledge, and perceived hypothetical distance serving as mediators. The results suggest that social media engagement directly influences the integration of online cancer information and cervical cancer screening knowledge within the CMM framework, thereby reducing perceived hypothetical distance. Furthermore, an increase in perceived hypothetical distance was found to enhance screening intentions. These findings provide valuable insights for campaigns aimed at improving cervical cancer knowledge and promoting vaccination. Healthcare practitioners and cancer organizations are encouraged to use social media platforms to initiate cervical cancer education campaigns.