University Students’ Cyberchondria and Anxiety Levels and Associated Factors: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: With the widespread use of the internet, health-seeking behavior and cyberchondria levels are increasing on the internet. In this study, it was aimed to measure the level of cyberchondria and anxiety in university students who are thought to use the internet intensively and to evaluate the related factors.

Methods: Between February 1 and April 30, 2022, 419 students from Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, 414 students from Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing Faculty, and 423 students from Faculty of Science and Letters were included in this study. The study was completed with 1256 participants. The data of the study were collected with a questionnaire consisting of three parts. In the first part, the questionnaire information form questioning the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and their health-seeking behavior on the internet, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale in the second part, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory in the third part were included.

Results: 67.2% of the participants were female and 32.8% were male, and the mean age was 20.90±1.38. The participants’ mean CSS score was 73.01±19.22, and the mean BAI score was 14.52±11.48. When the mean CSS scores of the faculties were compared, the scores of the faculty of medicine and faculty of health sciences-nursing were found to be statistically significantly higher than the scores of other faculties (p<0.001). The mean CSS scores of the students who found the health information obtained from social networks and internet sites to be reliable were found to be significantly higher (p<0.001). A positive and significant correlation was found between the mean time spent by the participants on health-related internet and their SCS and sub-dimension scores. A positive and significant correlation was found between the participants’ BAI score and CSS score.

Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that as the students’ cyberchondria scores increased, their anxiety scores also increased. The level of cyberchondria of the students of health sciences-nursing faculties and medical faculties was found to be significantly higher than the students of other faculties. It was found that students’ health information seeking behavior characteristics were related to their cyberchondria levels.