Compulsive Health-Related Internet Use and Cyberchondria

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Cyberchondria denotes excessive and repeated online health-related searches associated with an increase in health anxiety. Such searches persist in those with cyberchondria, despite the negative consequences, resembling a pattern of compulsive Internet use. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The aim of the present study was to assess compulsive health-related Internet use in relation to cyberchondria while controlling for related variables. <b><i>Method:</i></b> Adult participants (<i>N</i> = 749) were recruited from an online platform. They completed questionnaires assessing the severity of cyberchondria (via the Cyberchondria Severity Scale [CSS]), compulsive Internet use adapted for online health-related seeking (via the adapted Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS]), and levels of intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety, as well as depressive, somatic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of scores above a cutoff value on the CIUS, indicating compulsive health-related Internet use. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The regression output showed that only the CSS total score and sex made a unique, statistically significant contribution to the model, leading to the correct classification of 78.6% of the cases. Of the CSS subscales, compulsion and distress were the most strongly associated with compulsive health-related Internet use. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The finding that the adapted CIUS scores are associated with cyberchondria indicates that cyberchondria has a compulsive component, at least in terms of health-related Internet use. It also suggests that compulsive health-related Internet use persists despite the distress associated with this activity. Males may engage in cyberchondria more compulsively than females. These findings have implications for research and clinical practice.

Compulsive Internet Use Scale: Psychometric Properties and Associations With Sleeping Patterns, Mental Health, and Well-Being in Lithuanian Medical Students During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

“…Similarly, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances were associated with PIU among the medical population in studies conducted in other countries (Capetillo-Ventura and Juárez-Treviño, 2015;Younes et al, 2016;Grover et al, 2019;Shadzi et al, 2020). Recent studies found that PIU correlates with sleep problems, depression, and anxiety in non-medical populations as well (de Vries and Nakamae, 2018;Khazaal et al, 2021).…”

The association between fear of Covid-19 and smartphone addiction among individuals: the mediating and moderating role of cyberchondria severity

“…Abdelsattar et al ( 2021 ) in their research on a sample group of Arab individuals, concluded that there is a positive relationship between the severity of cybercoderia and fear of COVID-19. In some studies, it has been concluded that addictions to smartphones, the internet and/or social media is associated with cyberchondria severity (Fergus & Spada, 2017 ; Ivanova, 2013 ; Ivanova & Karabeova, 2014 ; Khazaal et al 2020 ). Other studies have reported that individuals who experience intense anxiety and fear during pandemics engage in behaviors that make them safe (Gaygisiz et al, 2012 ; Main et al, 2011 ).…”

Time Devoted to Individual, Collective, and Two-Person Sports: Its Association with Risk of Exercise Addiction and Alcohol Use Disorder

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