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Social Support Mediates the Association between Health Anxiety and Quality of Life: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study

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  • Marta Ciułkowicz

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Błażej Misiak

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Dorota Szcześniak

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Jolanta Grzebieluch

    (Department of Population Health, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Julian Maciaszek

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Joanna Rymaszewska

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

This study aimed to test if perceived social support and cyberchondria mediate the association between health anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in a nonclinical sample. Cross-sectional research involved adult internet users ( n = 538) between 16 May 2020 and 29 December 2020 in Poland who completed self-report questionnaires, including the cyberchondria severity scale (CSS-PL), the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) and the quality of life scale (QOLS). A mediation analysis was performed to examine the direct effects of health anxiety on cyberchondria, perceived social support and quality of life. Likewise, the effects of cyberchondria and perceived social support on QoL were analyzed. Hence, indirect effects of health anxiety on QoL through cyberchondria and perceived social support were explored. Health anxiety significantly impaired QoL both directly and indirectly through low-perceived social support. Perceived social support partly mediated the association between health anxiety and QoL. Cyberchondria did not have a significant direct effect on the latter. Thus, cyberchondria did not mediate the relationship between health anxiety and QoL. Boosting-perceived social support may mitigate the detrimental effect of health anxiety on QoL. Cyberchondria was not found to have a significant effect on QoL in contrast to health anxiety alone.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Ciułkowicz & Błażej Misiak & Dorota Szcześniak & Jolanta Grzebieluch & Julian Maciaszek & Joanna Rymaszewska, 2022. "Social Support Mediates the Association between Health Anxiety and Quality of Life: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12962-:d:937862
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Selçuk Özdin & Şükriye Bayrak Özdin, 2020. "Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 504-511, August.
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