Impact of Internet Addiction on Health Anxiety in Malaysian Youth During Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 The pandemic affected the mental health of people. Individuals prefer to collect information from the Internet about the virus, disease, symptoms, reports on statistics, treatments, and any other information related to the pandemic. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of Internet use in three different levels of users (Internet addicts, over-users, and average-users) on health anxiety during the pandemic among the young population in Malaysia. Four hundred and forty-eight young adult in Malaysia completed the online survey including demographic questionnaire, Short-form Health Anxiety Inventory, and Internet Addiction Test. Results showed that the Internet addict users have higher scores in the Total Health Anxiety and Health Anxiety factors (Illness Likelihood and Negative Consequences) compared to the average-users and over-users. It seems that high Internet usage is associated with high health anxiety. People may search more on the Internet for information related to the COVID-19 and the symptoms and it may increase their health anxiety. This study provides knowledge implications for mental health professionals about the association between Internet addiction and health anxiety. The findings may provide awareness to the public and professionals about one of the factors that are linked to individuals' health anxiety during the pandemic.

The Relationship between Internet Addiction, Internet Gaming and Anxiety among Medical Students in a Malaysian Public University during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A recent study conducted among Malaysian youth during the pandemic which examined the relationship between anxiety and IA, found that individuals with higher internet usage scored more in the anxiety inventory [20]. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of internet usage and IG among medical students and whether they are linked to anxiety during the pandemic.…”

A review on family caregiving challenges in Malaysia

“…Work and learning are conducted online, creating another issue: internet addiction to health anxiety. In the recent study by Khodabakhsh et al, four hundred and forty-eight young adults were surveyed (Khodabakhsh et al, 2021). The study showed that high internet use is associated with health anxiety.…”

Social Media Use among University Students in Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Most young adults view the Internet as an essential learning, work, and social connection tool, to name a few. The Internet, when coupled with social media, has various benefits that range widely from online education, speedy communication, and online shopping, to accessing online information and professionals in the field of health and medical care (Khodabakhsh, Ramasamy, Tan, & Chan, 2021).…”

“…However, exacerbated feedback may arise, in which the return of health anxiety and the perceived reassurance will eventually worsen the initial anxiety, causing a negative cognition should bodily sensations recur or if uncertainties surface with respect to medical test results. This postulate claims that even people with moderate anxiety have the tendency to more frequently seek health-related information online than those without anxiety, but the information deficit may cause health-related worries, and seeking information may also exaggerate the anxious feelings, especially among individuals with cognitive distortion (Khodabakhsh, Ramasamy, Tan, & Chan, 2021).…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has both explicit and implicit effects on the mental health of the people in a magnitude of ways. Living under quarantine, social distancing, retrenchment or work stoppage, the shutting down of educational institutions, and the general lockdown of cities have intensified the frustration of residents (Khodabakhsh, Ramasamy, Tan, & Chan, 2021). Amid physical distancing and isolation during the pandemic, the rise in social media has become evident; physical and social interactions have been greatly reduced, and the movement was towards the use of digital social media platforms (Dan, 2021).…”