Cyberchondriasis: Fact or fiction? A preliminary examination of the relationship between health anxiety and searching for health information on the Internet

Muse, Kate ORCID: 0000-0001-5824-1841, McManus, F, Leung, C, Meghreblian, B and Williams, J M (2012) Cyberchondriasis: Fact or fiction? A preliminary examination of the relationship between health anxiety and searching for health information on the Internet. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26 (1). pp. 189-196. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.11.005

Preview

Text 11008-Muse et al (2011) Cyberchondriasis (2).pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives 3.0. Download (339kB) | Preview

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between health anxiety and searching for health information online, a phenomenon dubbed 'cyberchondria'. The majority of those with ?high? (n = 46) and 'low' (n = 36) levels of health anxiety reported seeking health information online. However, those with higher levels of health anxiety sought online health information more frequently, spent longer searching, and found searching more distressing and anxiety provoking. Furthermore, more responses in the high than low health anxiety group related to searching for information on diagnosed and undiagnosed medical conditions, descriptions of others? experiences of illnesses and using message boards/support groups, although the largest proportion of responses in both groups was accounted for by seeking information on symptoms. Linear regression (n = 167) revealed significant relationships between health anxiety and the frequency, duration and distress and anxiety associated with searching for health information online. This preliminary data suggests that searching for health information online may exacerbate health anxiety.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cyberchondria; online searching; internet searching; health information; health anxiety; Hypochondriasis
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	17 May 2022 08:25
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:05
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/11008

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record