Cyberchondria, Uncertainty, and Psychological Distress among Omanis during COVID-19: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Frequent surfing on the internet for self-diagnosis and treatment in association with quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic leaves people with uncertainty and psychological distress. The aim was to explore the relationship between cyberchondria, psychological distress, and uncertainty in Oman. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was designed. Data was collected through an online survey from 393 Omani participants using the short-form version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted.Results: The majority of the participants were aged between 18-26 and 45-54 years (32.8% and 30.8% respectively). Almost three-quarters of the participants were female (n= 291, 74%) and half were single (n= 218, 55.5%). No significant associations were found between cyberchondria and the socio-demographic factors or the COVID-19 status. However, significant positive fair correlation was found between cyberchondriac experiences and psychological distress (rs =0.373), and cyberchondria and uncertainty (rs = 0.442).Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind investigating the relationship between cyberchondria, physiological distress, and uncertainty in the Omani population. Policy makers and stakeholders are encouraged to facilitate the reporting and observation of accurate and up-to-date information distributed to the population to avoid misleading information, and thus reduce the distress and uncertainty related to cyberchondriac behaviors.

Exploring cyberchondria and its associations in dental students amid COVID-19 infodemic

“…Median (IQR) of total score of cyberchondria scale was 26.00 (18.25–32.00), which is in line with a study in Oman wherein the mean (SD) score was 30.7 (9.8) in a sample of the general population ( n = 393) during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ 30 ] Our study finding about the various constructs of cyberchondria is similar to a recent Indian study wherein it was found that all the students of the study were affected by excessiveness and reassurance construct, 92% by distress, 75% by compulsion, and 19% by mistrust on medical professional. [ 30 ] However, our findings are strikingly higher than a previous Indian study which reported 55.6% prevalence of cyberchondria in graduate employees.…”

“…[ 30 ] Our study finding about the various constructs of cyberchondria is similar to a recent Indian study wherein it was found that all the students of the study were affected by excessiveness and reassurance construct, 92% by distress, 75% by compulsion, and 19% by mistrust on medical professional. [ 30 ] However, our findings are strikingly higher than a previous Indian study which reported 55.6% prevalence of cyberchondria in graduate employees. [ 41 ] We believe that the distress, uncertainty associated with the pandemic, and over availability of health data would explain the higher proportion of people getting affected by cyberchondria in our study.…”

“…[ 27 ] A study has shown that cyberchondria shares a significant positive correlation with psychological distress and uncertainty of the present pandemic. [ 30 ] Another study reported a positive correlation between cyberchondria and current virus anxiety and also that the relationship was additionally moderated by trait health anxiety. [ 31 ] However, the literature in this context is sparse.…”

Cyberchondria Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Management Strategies

“…A recent study conducted in Oman by Al Dameery et al (47) shows that there is a strong correlation between cyberchondriac experience and psychological stress. In their meta-analytic study, McMullan et al (15) have presented a significant relationship between cyberchondria and health anxiety and have demonstrated the commonality between the two constructs.…”

The role of emotional functioning in the relationship between health anxiety and cyberchondria

“…Distress can significantly contribute to the deterioration of a person's physical, mental, interpersonal, social, family, and economic functioning (Shneidman, 1999). Studies (Bajcar & Babiak, 2020;Bottesi et al, 2021;Dameery et al, 2021) have indicated a positive relationship between experiencing psychological distress and cyberchondria-individuals high in psychological distress looked for information about their health on the Internet more often than other subjects. In the same studies, psychological distress was found to co-occur with health anxiety.…”