The Role of Need for Cognition and Need for Closure in the Health Information Avoidance Among Cancer Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Maryam Torkaman ¹
• Mahdieh Mirzabeigi ²
• Mehdi Mohammadi ³

¹ M. A., Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Shiraz University. Shiraz, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Shiraz University. Shiraz, Iran.

³ Professor, Shiraz University. Shiraz, Iran.

10.22067/infosci.2025.92192.1234

Abstract

Introduction:  Health information avoidance has increasingly been recognized as a significant concern, particularly among individuals diagnosed with cancer, and is now considered an integral component of the broader health information management process. Within this context, some patients not only abstain from actively seeking information related to their condition, but also purposefully—or as a result of diminished motivation—disengage from available information altogether. Consequently, critical health information that could substantially inform decision-making and support treatment adherence is, at times, intentionally overlooked. Given the potential ramifications of such behavior, it is imperative to investigate the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors that drive health information avoidance, particularly among cancer patients. Among the various influencing factors, cognitive characteristics play a pivotal role. In particular, two salient cognitive traits—need for cognition and need for closure—are recognized for their substantial impact on individuals’ engagement with or avoidance of health-related information, especially in high-stress, emotionally charged contexts such as coping with cancer. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the extent to which need for cognition and need for closure predict health information avoidance among individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Methodology: The study employed a quantitative research design, was applied in nature with respect to its objectives, and utilized a descriptive-correlational approach for data collection. The target population comprised students from Shiraz University who either had a personal history of cancer or had a family member with such a history. In accordance with the research objectives, a total of 212 participants were selected using convenience sampling and the G*Power software for sample size determination. For data collection, a structured questionnaire was employed, comprising three validated instruments: the Information Avoidance Questionnaire, adapted from Miles et al. (2008); the Need for Cognition Scale, developed by Cacioppo et al. (1984); and the Need for Closure Scale, originally developed by Webster and Kruglanski (1994) and later revised and abbreviated by Roets and Van Hiel (2011). Following an assessment of the instruments’ validity and reliability, recruitment for participation was conducted through social media platforms and in-person distribution at the dormitories of Shiraz University. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 23), employing Pearson correlation, simple linear regression, and multiple regression analyses.
Findings: To examine the relationships among the variables of interest, Pearson correlation analysis was employed. The results indicated a statistically significant negative correlation between need for cognition and health information avoidance (r = –0.391, p < 0.01), as well as a statistically significant positive correlation between need for closure and health information avoidance (r = 0.157, p < 0.05). To further explore the predictive roles of need for cognition and need for closure in health information avoidance among cancer patients, simple linear regression analyses were conducted. The analysis revealed that need for cognition accounted for 15.3% of the variance in health information avoidance. Accordingly, need for cognition emerged as a significant negative predictor of health information avoidance. Conversely, need for closure accounted for 2.4% of the variance in health information avoidance, indicating that it served as a significant positive predictor. Furthermore, to investigate the combined influence of need for cognition and need for closure on health information avoidance among cancer patients, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. The results indicated that the two variables jointly explained 21.4% of the variance in health information avoidance. Thus, when considered simultaneously, both need for cognition and need for closure were significant predictors of health information avoidance.
Discussion and conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that both need for cognition and need for closure, independently and interactively, significantly predict health information avoidance behavior among cancer patients. Specifically, the interplay between these two cognitive traits appears to play a critical role in shaping avoidance tendencies, contributing to the development of more complex patterns of health information avoidance within this population. Accordingly, it is recommended that the concurrent influence of need for cognition and need for closure be carefully considered in efforts to understand and address health information avoidance among cancer patients. This dual-perspective approach offers a valuable foundation for the development of effective support systems and targeted interventions that align with the cognitive profiles of this population. Furthermore, the formulation of appropriate policies and practical strategies—such as the implementation of educational initiatives (e.g., health information literacy programs)—may enhance patient engagement with health information and mitigate avoidance behaviors.
Originality: This study makes a notable contribution to the existing body of literature by addressing a relatively understudied area: the concurrent influence of need for cognition and need for closure on health information avoidance among cancer patients. Whereas prior research has generally considered these cognitive traits in isolation, the present study is among the first to examine their joint impact. In doing so, it provides a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the cognitive mechanisms underlying information avoidance within this vulnerable population. By addressing this critical gap in the literature, the study also establishes a foundation for future research aimed at designing health communication strategies that are attuned to individuals’ cognitive profiles.

Keywords

• Information Avoidance
• Health Information Avoidance
• Need for Cognition
• Need for Closure
• Cancer Patients

Main Subjects

• Information Behavior

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