The Portrait of Cyberchondria—A Cross-Sectional Online Study on Factors Related to Health Anxiety and Cyberchondria in Polish Population during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has served as a magnifying glass for cyberchondria, while the internet emerged as one of the main sources of medical information and support. The core ambition of this study was to estimate the level of cyberchondria and describe the socio-demographic, clinical and pandemic-related factors affecting its severity amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was performed between 16 May 2020 and 29 December 2020 in Poland within a sample of 538 adult internet users. The online survey tool included a Polish adaptation of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-PL) and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), complemented with a set of questions covering sociodemographic, clinical and pandemic-related factors. Participants were clustered according to severity of health anxiety and cyberchondria symptoms. The performed binary logistic regression indicated professional inactivity, having a chronic mental disorder and subjectively limited access to healthcare due to COVID-19 to be key determinants of severe health anxiety and cyberchondria. Cyberchondria might be a remarkable public health issue as large proportion of respondents from the analyzed sample population of internet users met the criteria for severe symptoms. Key determinants of intense cyberchondria corresponded with employment stability, mental resilience and accessibility of healthcare services, which could be greatly challenged amid the pandemic.

Cyberchondria and its Association with Smartphone Addiction and Electronic Health Literacy among a Saudi Population

“…In contrast, Ciułkowicz et al . [ 36 ] reported that occupational inactivity results in limited access to healthcare, which in turn creates an economic burden on these individuals. A possible explanation for this difference is that in Saudi Arabia, citizens are provided healthcare for free, and thus it has a fair coverage for those non-working, while the pension for retirees adequately covers any additional healthcare needs.…”

The relationship between Cyberchondria and Health Literacy among first year Nursing Students: the mediating effect of health anxiety.

“…Cyberchondria have a negative impact on nursing students. It can lead to heightened anxiety, stress, and even hypochondria (9). This can affect their ability to focus on their studies and perform effectively in clinical settings.…”

Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups

“…After the early pandemic phases, the acute stress factor gained chronic character leading to a novel manifestation of pandemic-associated mental disorders. Currently, many researchers report on factors contributing or correlated with mental health outcomes in the general population, in students, or in medical professionals [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. However, much less is known about the consequences of COVID-19-related psychological strain on vulnerable populations, such as individuals at risk for mental disorders, the elderly, and those frequently requiring services of the health care system—patients treated for chronic diseases, such as neurological disorders, dermatological conditions, or patients undergoing dialyses.…”