Identifying the Effect of Digital Healthcare Products in Metaverse on Mental Health: Studying The Interaction of Cyberchondria and Technophobia

Abstract

Objectives: Metaverse has emerged as an innovative social media platform and Internet applications which integrates several cutting-edge technologies. It possesses connectedness, hyper spatio-temporality, and several technology attributes. The metaverse also can potentially reinvent health's digital and practical prospects, much as the Internet drastically changed that industry. Major ramifications will follow for both our well-being and the provision of healthcare. In China, after the emergence of the pandemic, there is a substantial need for digital healthcare services since the interaction between hospitals and people requiring consultation is minimal. The current study will examine the impact of digital healthcare products in the metaverse on mental health while considering the moderating effect of cyberchondria and technophobia. The need for more resources and increased demand for healthcare services creates difficulty in promptly delivering services to the needy. Metaverse and its technology can improve the performance of the current healthcare system. Methods: The research utilized a quantitative survey- based method in the healthcare sector among staff members. Of 330 questionnaires distributed, 307 were collected and analyzed through SPSS and AMOS. Results: The analysis signified a strong and significant association between digital healthcare products and mental health in the metaverse, along with the considerable moderation of technophobia. Conclusion: The paper can improve healthcare sector staff members' provision practices and mental health. It can provide cost-effective solutions to the sector.

Factors affecting the adoption of metaverse in healthcare: The moderating role of digital division, and meta-culture

“…The past literature also shows that the digital divide does not moderate the effect of the perceived usefulness and trust on adopting the metaverse in healthcare. According to these studies presence and absence of digital divides does have any impact on the adoption of the metaverse in the healthcare system [ 25 , 152 , 153 ]. Similarly, the study also found that the meta culture has no moderating effect on the relationship between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and trust in adopting a metaverse in healthcare with p values greater than 0.05 and t values smaller than 1.96.…”

Metaverse: Trend, emerging themes, and future directions

“…20 In the 2010s, the majority of publications were still written by computer scientists and engineers, but metaverse started drawing attention from researchers in some other disciplines such as business, management and marketing, 21,22 social sciences, 23,24 and arts and humanities (Ayiter and de Sousa). 25,26 Between 2020 and 2022, metaverse had continuously drawn attention from computer science, engineering, business, management and marketing, social sciences, and arts and humanities while researchers in other disciplines including medicine, [27][28][29] psychology, 30,31 and finance 32,33 started exploring the use of metaverse in their specific applications. As such, metaverse becomes a multidisciplinary research area because it involves the interactions between technology, humans, business entities, communities, and non-governmental and governmental organizations.…”

Exploring Depression and Nutritional Covariates Amongst US Adults using Shapely Additive Explanations

“…Its impact on individuals, communities, and economies is significant, with reduced productivity and increased healthcare costs 1,6,7 . There is a growing recognition of the importance of addressing depression as a public health priority, and efforts are being made at both national and international levels to identify risk factors and promote effective treatments 8–10 . As the stigma around mental health decreases and more people seek help for depression, access to coverage for depression care through insurance is also increasing 11–13 .…”

“…1,6,7 There is a growing recognition of the importance of addressing depression as a public health priority, and efforts are being made at both national and international levels to identify risk factors and promote effective treatments. [8][9][10] As the stigma around mental health decreases and more people seek help for depression, access to coverage for depression care through insurance is also increasing. [11][12][13] With rising levels of psychological stress due to occupation and other factors, effective strategies are urgently needed to prevent and treat depression.…”