The effect of cyberchondria on anxiety, depression and quality of life during COVID-19: the mediational role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction

Ambrosini, Federica; Truzoli, R.; Vismara, Matteo; Vitella, Daniele; Biolcati, Roberta

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09437

Cited by 14 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…Other aspects have been explored in relation to cyberchondria during COVID-19, such as coping perceptions and emotion regulation [ 47 , 49 ], anxious temperament [ 61 ], (health-related) anxiety and anxiety sensitivity [ 49 , 50 , 62 – 73 ], quality of life [ 50 , 64 , 65 , 69 ], fear and fear of COVID-19 [ 50 , 61 , 62 , 66 , 68 , 71 , 74 – 76 ], perception and perceived severity/risk of COVID-19 [ 67 , 76 , 77 ], depression [ 50 , 64 , 65 , 67 , 69 ], stress [ 50 , 64 , 67 , 74 ], OC behaviors and obsessional probabilistic inferences [ 50 , 62 , 65 , 69 , 71 ], lockdown experience [ 67 ], smartphone addiction [ 75 ], PUI and internet addiction [ 65 , 68 , 69 , 72 , 78 ], problematic use of social media [ 76 ], metacognitive beliefs [ 68 ], intolerance to uncertainty [ 66 , 71 , 72 ], psychological distress [ 63 , 72 ], sleep quality [ 62 ], negative affect [ 62 ], avoidance behaviors, information overload [ 79 ], and intention not to get a COVID-19 vaccination/vaccine skepticism [ 76 , 77 ]...…”

Section: Cyberchondriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyberchondria: a Growing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Possible Addictive Disorder?

Mestre‐Bach

Potenza

2023

Curr Addict Rep

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Purpose of Review The main purpose of this narrative review is to provide a brief overview of the current empirical evidence regarding the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of cyberchondria, with a focus on the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. Although cyberchondria has been widely associated with anxiety, it has also been suggested that it may be linked to obsessive–compulsive features. A less explored proposal is the categorization of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. The present review explores the existing literature with respect to the possible classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction by considering cyberchondria with respect to components of the interaction of person, affect, cognition and execution model. Recent Findings There is a lack of consensus regarding the definition and conceptualization of cyberchondria. The empirical evidence available to date suggests that cyberchondria is a multifactorial construct that operates transdiagnostically, particularly with respect to obsessive–compulsive-related disorders and health-related anxiety. The extent to which the condition may reflect a behavioral addiction as a form of problematic use of the internet also warrants consideration. Cyberchondria may have become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular populations prone to health-related anxiety likely having greater vulnerability. Existing data in part support the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction, although many gaps in understanding currently exist. Summary Cyberchondria appears to be a growing concern. However, there is not yet enough empirical evidence to determine whether this clinical condition has enough similarities with behavioral addictions to be considered as one. Likewise, psychometric instruments that exist to date have not been designed from the theoretical framework of behavioral addictions, so most of the factors that they evaluate may be preferentially related to anxiety. Finally, there is still no consensus on whether cyberchondria should be addressed in the context of health anxiety interventions, OCRD, or behavioral addictions; thus, more empirical evidence is needed.

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Section: Cyberchondriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyberchondria: a Growing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Possible Addictive Disorder?

Mestre‐Bach

Potenza

2023

Curr Addict Rep

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“…Before cyberchondria can be conceived as an entity in and of itself, this result needs to be replicated-a challenging effort given the lack of clear rules about the minimal prerequisites for any psychopathological entity to be deemed separate and different from associated illnesses and health issues. These factors could aid in more effectively integrating the varying factors that cause cyberchondria [9].…”

Section: Theoretical Perspectives Of Cyberchondriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome: A Breviloquent Review

Mohan¹,

Fenn²,

Thangavelu³

2022

Cureus

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The rapid increase in internet use in the current digital era has caused a potential increase in anxiety, and a person either self-medicates or abruptly stops the drug for his medical illness, thereby the rise in the Internet Derived information Obstructing Treatment (IDIOT) syndrome. The Internet Derived Information Obstructing Treatment (IDIOT) syndrome occurs when patients abruptly quit their treatment because they have blindly trusted internet medical information. WHO calls this an " Infodemic," which has created a complex situation in healthcare, as it has caused too much information in digital and physical environments during an outbreak of the disease and caused mistrust in health authorities. Patients get important health information online and anticipate additional assistance, Dr. C. N. Manjunath, Director, Jayadeva Hospital, says "Doctors are becoming sick because of stress, and they need to take care of their health. There is an added demand to acquire communication skills rather than merely technical and professional qualities." Patients must not merely believe healthcare-related information available from online health resources and must seek the help of licensed healthcare professionals for their health concerns. There must be an increase in the awareness programs among the public to as not to fall as victims and blindly follow or abruptly stop their medical prescriptions for their medical illness from available online health resources.

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“…COVID-19 has radically transformed life and education. During this era, e-learning has flourished1 4 5; however, it is associated with cyberchondria and internet addiction 6–11. Like many other countries, Jordan has been influenced by COVID-19.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cyberchondria is the unwarranted exaggeration of individuals’ health-related anxiety resulting from repetitive online-based searches for self-diagnosis 4 9. Internet addiction is the compulsive use of and preoccupation with the internet that urges the individual to spend more time on the internet 4 9. Health anxiety is an extreme focus on physical symptoms based on incorrect physical sensations and interpretations 4 9…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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COVID-19 era-related e-learning: a cross-sectional web-scale study of cyberchondria, internet addiction and anxiety-related symptomatology among university nursing students

et al. 2023

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ObjectiveThe study assessed COVID-19 era-related e-learning cyberchondria, internet addiction and anxiety-related symptomatology among nursing students. The relationships, predictors and differences between the studied concepts were measured.DesignIn 2021, a quantitative cross‐sectional research design using a web survey with a sample size of 333 nursing students yielded a response rate of 70%.ResultsNursing students had a moderate level of cyberchondria, low to moderate internet addiction, a moderate to severe level of anxiety and depression, and a normal stress level. Demographic characteristics, cyberchondria, internet addiction and anxiety-related symptomatology were significantly correlated. Grade point average, age, type of organisation where the students were trained and level of education were significant predictors of the studied variables. Significant differences in the studied concepts were found based on the sample’s characteristics such as gender, type of organisations or universities where the students were trained or studied, and age.ConclusionCyberchondria, internet addiction, depression, anxiety and stress symptomatology are troublesome. Higher education organisations might benefit from examining the variables of interest and investigating the relations between internet addiction and depression and anxiety symptomatology among nursing students. Such research will aid in tailoring treatments to assist vulnerable students by targeting counselling and educational efforts toward building a future generation of nurses with reduced cyberchondria, internet addiction and anxiety-related symptomatology.

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The effect of cyberchondria on anxiety, depression and quality of life during COVID-19: the mediational role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction

Cited by 14 publications

References 86 publications

Cyberchondria: a Growing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Possible Addictive Disorder?

Cyberchondria: a Growing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Possible Addictive Disorder?

Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment (IDIOT) Syndrome: A Breviloquent Review

COVID-19 era-related e-learning: a cross-sectional web-scale study of cyberchondria, internet addiction and anxiety-related symptomatology among university nursing students

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