Information seeking and health anxiety during the COVID‐19 pandemic: The mediating role of catastrophic cognitions

Abstract

Cognitive–behavioural models of health anxiety propose a positive association between information seeking and health anxiety; however, it is unclear the extent to which cognitive mechanisms may mediate this relationship. Catastrophic cognitions are one type of cognition that may mediate this relationship, and the COVID‐19 pandemic has presented an opportunity to examine these relationships within the context of a global health catastrophe. The current study investigated both cross‐sectional ( N = 797) and longitudinal ( n = 395) relationships between information seeking, health anxiety and catastrophizing during the pandemic. Data were collected using Amazon Mechanical Turk during April and May 2020. Information seeking and health anxiety were positively associated both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally ( r s = .25–.29). Catastrophic cognitions significantly mediated the relationship between information seeking and health anxiety both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. Developing effective methods of reducing information seeking and catastrophizing may serve to reduce health anxiety during global health crises such as the current pandemic.

COVID-19 Information-Seeking, Health Literacy, and Worry and Anxiety During the Early Stage of the Pandemic in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…We therefore recommend that efforts aiming at providing information on COVID-19 to people with lower health literacy should concentrate on personal discussion or education about optimal internet navigation and reliable online resources. An association between health anxiety and informationseeking has been often found in previous research, but there is no evidence that the relationship between the two variables is one-directional [34]. The current study did not find any association between frequency of CISB or any group of information sources and worry and anxiety.…”

“…An association between health anxiety and information-seeking has been often found in previous research, but there is no evidence that the relationship between the two variables is one-directional [ 34 ]. The current study did not find any association between frequency of CISB or any group of information sources and worry and anxiety.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Behavior and Physical and Mental Health of Romanian College Students

“…Intolerance of uncertainty includes the belief that uncertain events are unfair, unacceptable and threatening [23]. In such situations, catastrophic cognitions occur, which mediate the relationship between information seeking and health anxiety [24]. It was also found that catastrophic thinking about COVID-19 can contribute to various psychiatric symptoms associated with depression, agoraphobia and panic disorder [25].…”

Information seeking, mental health and loneliness: Longitudinal analyses of adults in the UK COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing study

“…Information seeking can also be a reassurance seeking behaviour aimed at reducing health-related fears and is particularly common where there is uncertainty about information presented in the media related to a specific topic ( Guillaume & Bath, 2004 ). However, a high-level of information seeking can be associated with higher health anxiety ( McMullan et al, 2019 ; Jagtap, Shamblaw, Rumas & Best, 2021 ) and it is suggested that it can actually increase anxiety due to negative reinforcement ( Starcevic & Berle, 2013 ). Relatedly, previous research has also shown that media messaging about infectious diseases can increase perceptions of public risk and anxiety ( Sell et al, 2017 ).…”