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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

Author

Listed:
  • 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

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Ciułkowicz & Błażej Misiak & Dorota Szcześniak & Jolanta Grzebieluch & Julian Maciaszek & Joanna Rymaszewska, 2022. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:4347-:d:787058
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Yingfei Zhang & Zheng Feei Ma, 2020. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Quality of Life among Local Residents in Liaoning Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Linn, M.W. & Sandifer, R. & Stein, S., 1985. "Effects of unemployment on mental and physical health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 75(5), pages 502-506.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mateusz Łuc & Marcin Pawłowski & Arkadiusz Jaworski & Karolina Fila-Witecka & Dorota Szcześniak & Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik & Dorota Zielińska & Aleksandra Stefaniak & Anna Pokryszko-Dragan & Justyna, 2023. "Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Shengyingjie Liu & Huai Yang & Min Cheng & Tianchang Miao, 2022. "Family Dysfunction and Cyberchondria among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, August.

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