Research Article

The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study

Volume: 2 Number: 3 September 29, 2026
TR EN

The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study

Abstract

Aim: To determine health-sciences students’ new media literacy and xenophobia levels and to examine the effect of new media literacy and media-use characteristics on xenophobia and language-based clinical discrimination. Methods: In this cross-sectional, correlational study, a convenience sample of undergraduate health-sciences students completed the New Media Literacy Scale, the Xenophobia Scale, and a sociodemographic and media-use questionnaire form. The analytic sample comprised 354 students. Results: A small positive significant association was found between new media literacy and xenophobia (r=.16,p=.003), driven by functional rather than critical sub-dimensions; the four sub-dimensions jointly explained 3.6% of the variance. The strongest correlate of xenophobia was being affected by negative immigrant-related content on social media (p<.001). Having a foreign/immigrant friend did not create a significant difference, whereas critical media literacy showed a protective but non-significant trend against language-based treatment prioritization (OR=0.45,p=.106). The measurement instruments demonstrated strong psychometric properties with high internal-consistency reliability. Conclusions: Technical fluency with new media does not protect against xenophobia; the valence of encountered content matters more. Curricula should shift from technical training toward critical digital media literacy embedded in transcultural ethics education.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was formally obtained from the Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Health Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (Date: October 2, 2024; Decision No: 02-2024/25). Institutional permission was granted by the Faculty of Health Sciences (Document No: E-10487118-044-304481). The study was conducted in full accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Thanks

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the university students who voluntarily participated in this study and contributed their valuable time and insights.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 29, 2026

Submission Date

July 3, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 4, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 3

APA
Kuddaş, N. B., & Erkayıran, O. (2026). The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study. Journal of PAN Health Sciences, 2(3), 43-57. https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN
AMA
1.Kuddaş NB, Erkayıran O. The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study. PAN. 2026;2(3):43-57. https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN
Chicago
Kuddaş, Necati Buğra, and Orkun Erkayıran. 2026. “The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study”. Journal of PAN Health Sciences 2 (3): 43-57. https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN.
EndNote
Kuddaş NB, Erkayıran O (September 1, 2026) The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study. Journal of PAN Health Sciences 2 3 43–57.
IEEE
[1]N. B. Kuddaş and O. Erkayıran, “The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study”, PAN, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 43–57, Sept. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN
ISNAD
Kuddaş, Necati Buğra - Erkayıran, Orkun. “The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study”. Journal of PAN Health Sciences 2/3 (September 1, 2026): 43-57. https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN.
JAMA
1.Kuddaş NB, Erkayıran O. The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study. PAN. 2026;2:43–57.
MLA
Kuddaş, Necati Buğra, and Orkun Erkayıran. “The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study”. Journal of PAN Health Sciences, vol. 2, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 43-57, https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN.
Vancouver
1.Necati Buğra Kuddaş, Orkun Erkayıran. The Relationship Between New Media Literacy and Xenophobia Among Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study. PAN [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 1;2(3):43-57. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA47RK76KN