Prevalence and Psychosocial Predictors of Cyberchondria in Nigeria During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and frequently changing information about the virus heighten the potentials cyberchondria. This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of cyberchondria among Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n=406, 268 males, Mage = 37.68 years, SD = 10.78) completed an online survey consisting of validated measures of cyberchondria, health anxiety, neuroticism, quality of life, medical history, and socio-demographic information. Participants (Mscore= 27.44±7.31) reported moderate to high levels of cyberchondria. Results of hierarchical regression showed that although all predictor variables collectively predicted cyberchondria with 22% of explained variance, the strongest predictors of cyberchondria were health anxiety and the number of prior hospital visits. Reducing the level of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic requires the ability to deal with health-related fear and effectively managing the uncertainties surrounding online health information.

Antecedents of students' e-learning continuance intention during COVID-19: An empirical study

This study aims at exploring the underlying determinants influencing students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, the study investigated the role of contextual (i.e., social isolation), psychological (academic year loss and cyberchondria), and student support-related (government and institutional supports) determinants on students' continuance intention to use an e-Learning platform during the pandemic. The study collected data from 440 respondents and analyzed those with Structural Equation Modeling. The findings showed that an e-Learning continuance intention during the pandemic is affected by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, and intention to use the e-Learning platform;while the behavioral intention is influenced by usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants;and attitudes are impacted by usefulness and ease of use. Moreover, usefulness is predicted by confirmation of expectation;e-satisfaction is forecasted by usefulness and confirmation of expectation;whereas, cyberchondria is influenced by social isolation;fear of academic year loss is influenced by cyberchondria. Finally, intention to use mediated the impact of usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants on continuance intention. The study contributes to e-Learning literature incorporating contextual, psychological, and student support-related determinants into the technology acceptance model and expectation-confirmation model, which guide policymakers to understand how all levels of students can be brought into the e-Learning platforms that eventually help to eliminate digital discrimination barrier in the academia during any emergency. The policymakers must be careful in designing eLearning platforms since students' e-learning continuance intention may vary due to unprecedented crises, such as COVID-19.

Illness anxiety predicts higher mental strain and vaccine willingness-A nine-wave longitudinal study during the first 1.5 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Illness anxiety may amplify vulnerability to psychopathological symptoms during the COVID-19-pandemic-perhaps especially at the beginning of the pandemic and during high infection waves, but empirical evidence on this is lacking. In addition, considering a potentially functional facet of it, illness anxiety might be associated with higher vaccine willingness. We analyzed data of a nine-wave longitudinal online-survey (March 2020-October 2021) with 8148 non-probability sampled adults of the general population in Germany (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04331106). Using multilevel analysis, we investigated longitudinal associations of dimensionally assessed illness anxiety (worry about illness, bodily preoccupation) with mental strain and vaccine willingness and considered the dynamic of the pandemic (i.e., duration and infection rates). Higher worry about illness and bodily preoccupation were associated with higher COVID-19-related fears, unspecific anxiety, depressive symptoms, and vaccine willingness. Vaccine willingness increased over time and in parallel to higher infection rates. Symptoms of mental strain decreased with continuing duration of the pandemic but increased when infection rates inclined. This decrease and increase, respectively, was steeper in individuals with higher illness anxiety. Our findings suggest that individuals with higher illness anxiety are more vulnerable to experience psychopathological symptoms during the ongoing pandemic, particularly at its beginning and during times of high infection rates. Thus, illness anxiety and associated symptoms should be targeted by adaptive measures. The fluctuation of symptoms parallel to the pandemic situation implies that support should be particularly issued at the beginning of extraordinary situations as well as during phases of high infection rates.

Mediating Effect of Autistic Traits between the Emotional Impact of Pandemic and Depressive Symptoms

Background. The pandemic is having a significant impact on mental health, especially in vulnerable groups. Method. A conditional analysis was carried out with a population of 185 people. The study population did not have any psychiatric diagnosis, they are people without autism. The age of the participants ranges between 18 and 72 years (M = 31.43;SD = 16.26). The mediating role of autistic traits and the moderating role of age between the emotional impact of the pan-demic and depressive symptoms are analyzed. Results. The results demonstrate a significant influence of age and emo-tional impact of the pandemic on the depressive symptoms. The mediating variable autistic traits was also significant. Conclusions. These results point to the younger population with autistic traits as particularly vulnerable.

Who Believes in Fake News: A Study on the Relationship between Affective Temperament, Cyberchondria and Problematic Use of the Internet during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak has been associated with various psychological problems, such as Cyberchondria, constant research for information online, to obtain health-related information. This was associated with problematic social media use and various psychological problems. This study aimed to measure the characteristics of fear and anxiety of COVID-19, the generalized approach to online searching and the use of the Internet about the perception of health, during a pandemic. The online survey was disseminated from April to June 2021 on available social media channels. We found that the pandemic was associated with depression, anxiety, cyberchondria, and cognitive preoccupation. We reported an increase in cyberchondria, depression, stress, low mood, and anxiety during the Covid outbreak. The Internet plays a vital role in everyday life in this period, because it has become a popular source of accessing health-related information. © 2023 by the author.

Age, COVID-19-related fear, insomnia symptoms and cyberchondria: a mediation model

Introduction: The subject of our study was the role of age, fear of COVID-19 infection and insomnia as predictors of cyberchondria in a Polish sample. We were also interested in whether insomnia mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 infection and cyberchondria in the entire sample. Material(s) and Method(s): The study sample consisted of 504 people, including 420 women and 84 men, aged 18 to 76 years (M +/-SD 30.49 +/-10.28), who were recruited through an online platform. Cyberchondria was assessed using the Polish version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale. An 11-point numerical rating scale was used to measure the intensity of fear of COVID-19 infection for oneself. Insomnia symptoms were measured using the Polish version of the Athenian Insomnia Scale. Result(s): The correlation coefficients indicated positive relationships between the fear of COVID-19 infection and insomnia and cyberchondria, while age correlated negatively with cyberchondria. The hierarchical multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that COVID-19-related fear was the best predictor of cyberchondria. Insomnia and age were also cyberchondria predictors, but to a lesser extent. The mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect relationship between COVID-19-related fear and cyberchondria through insomnia symptoms. Conclusion(s): We observed that COVID-19-related fear and, to a lesser extent, age and insomnia were cyberchondria predictors. We also found both direct and indirect relationships between COVID-19-related fear and cyberchondria through insomnia.Copyright © 2022 Termedia Publishing House Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Health Anxiety, Information Anxiety, and Internet Self-Efficacy on Cyberchondria among Filipino Young Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The mobility restrictions due to COVID-19 lockdown impositions have forced people to stay at home in lieu of face-to-face activities. In effect, it has increased people's exposure to the Internet and its perils, brought by excessive information from different media that may lead to the development of health-related anxiety. This phenomenon is known as cyberchondria, where people may have experienced extreme anxiety about their physical health because of repeated internet searches concerning their medical conditions. This paper investigates the possible relationship between health anxiety, information anxiety, and computer self-efficacy toward cyberchondria. Data from a cross-sectional method using online surveys among fresh graduates aged 21-24 in several Philippine higher education institutions were analyzed. The results of the structural model test reveal that both health anxiety and information anxiety may contribute to cyberchondria. The study discusses the implication of the results and offers fruitful research directions for further studies. © ICCE 2022.All rights reserved.

Nutritional Supplement Use Influencing by Cyberchondria and E-Health Literacy During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Turkey

Aim: "We're not just fighting an epidemic;we're fighting an infodemic," said World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Munich Security Conference. In this context, we examined vitamin-mineral use frequency as influenced by cyberchondria, or E-health literacy level, and related factors during the coronavirus disease-2019 outbreak. Method(s): In this cross-sectional study, participants who were admitted to the outpatient clinics in a tertiary hospital between March 2021 and April 2021 were asked questions on socio-demographic data, the presence of vitamin and mineral use, and knowledge. The cyberchondria scores by the cyberchondria severity scale and the E-health literacy scores by the electronic health literacy scale were assessed based on nutrition type choice. The use of vitamins and minerals was compared between regular and non-regular supplement users. Factors related to the presence of nutritional supplement use were assessed through logistic regression analysis. Result(s): A total of 417 participants, including those aged 39.3+/-12.09 years, were found to be regular nutritional supplement users at a rate of 52.99% during the outbreak. The most commonly used supplements were vitamin D (62.8%), vitamin C (54.4%), vitamin B12 (39.6%), zinc (37.9%), magnesium (35.7%), and iron (33.60%). The least used supplement was melatonin (5.30%). Iron, calcium, and vitamin A users had a higher cyberchondria score than non-users (p=0.002, p=0.044, and p=0.030, respectively). However, zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, omega-3 fish oil, and probiotic users had a higher E-health literacy score than non-users (p<0.001, p=0.018, p<0.001, p=0.009, p=0.047, p=0.018, p=0.002, p=0.002, respectively). Logistic regression analyses identified higher E-health literacy [odds ratio (OR)=1.077;95% confidence interval (CI): 1.042-1.115;p<0.001], female sex (OR=1,659;95% CI: 1,005-2,737;p=0.048), graduated from university (OR=2,536;95% CI: 1,009-6,374;p=0.048), presence of health professional's advice (OR=3,716;95% CI: 2,260-6,119;p<0.001) and chronic disease presence (OR=2,755;95% CI: 1,420-5,347;p=0.003) were predictors of supplement usage during the outbreak. Conclusion(s): Higher E-health literate women with comorbidities were likely nutritional supplement users during the outbreak, regardless of cyberchondria severity or age generation differences.Copyright © 2023 by The Medical Bulletin of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayinevi.

The association between fear of Covid-19 and smartphone addiction among individuals: the mediating and moderating role of cyberchondria severity.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread all over the world and has contributed to psychological consequences including fear of the virus. Depending upon the severity of their problems, individuals often search the internet via their mobile devices to understand whether the symptoms they perceive are symptoms of the disease. This condition has been termed 'cyberchondria'. In this context, the aim of this study is examine the mediating and moderating role of cyberchondria severity in the association between smartphone addiction and the fear of COVID-19. The sample comprised 520 participants (335 females [64.4%], 185 males [35.6%] aged 17 to 65 years [Mean = 28.61 years, SD = 10.60]). A survey included the Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short-Form, The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Structural equation modeling and SPSS Process Macro moderator variable analysis were used to test the research model. The study found a positive association between smartphone addiction, fear of COVID-19, and cyberchondria severity. Cyberchondria severity had both moderating and mediating role in the association between smartphone addiction and the fear of COVID-19. In conclusion, it has been determined that during the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberchondria severity has negative effects on individuals' fear of COVID-19.

Predictors of Cyberchondria During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study Using Supervised Machine Learning.

BACKGROUND: Cyberchondria is characterized by repeated and compulsive online searches for health information, resulting in increased health anxiety and distress. It has been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct fueled by both anxiety and compulsivity-related factors and described as a "transdiagnostic compulsive behavioral syndrome," which is associated with health anxiety, problematic internet use, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Cyberchondria is not included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and its defining features, etiological mechanisms, and assessment continue to be debated. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate changes in the severity of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the predictors of cyberchondria at this time. METHODS: Data collection started on May 4, 2020, and ended on June 10, 2020, which corresponds to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. At the time the study took place, French-speaking countries in Europe (France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg) all implemented lockdown or semilockdown measures. The survey consisted of a questionnaire collecting demographic information (sex, age, education level, and country of residence) and information about socioeconomic circumstances during the first lockdown (eg, economic situation, housing, and employment status) and was followed by several instruments assessing various psychological and health-related constructs. Inclusion criteria for the study were being at least 18 years of age and having a good understanding of French. Self-report data were collected from 725 participants aged 18-77 (mean 33.29, SD 12.88) years, with females constituting the majority (416/725, 57.4%). RESULTS: The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected various facets of cyberchondria: cyberchondria-related distress and compulsion increased (distress z=-3.651, P<.001; compulsion z=-5.697, P<.001), whereas the reassurance facet of cyberchondria decreased (z=-6.680, P<.001). In addition, COVID-19-related fears and health anxiety emerged as the strongest predictors of cyberchondria-related distress and interference with functioning during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cyberchondria and identify factors that should be considered in efforts to prevent and manage cyberchondria at times of public health crises. In addition, they are consistent with a theoretical model of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic proposed in 2020. These findings have implications for the conceptualization and future assessment of cyberchondria.

Cyberchondria among information technology professionals of Bhubaneswar by using cyberchondria severity scale (CSS-15).

Background: Internet can act as an excellent resource for gaining valuable health related information. However, excessive online research and investigation about health-related issues may impose a negative impact. The term cyberchondria is used to describe a clinical condition in which frequent internet searches for health-related information leads to exaggerated anxieties about physical well-being. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cyberchondria and associated factors among the information technology professionals of Bhubaneswar in India. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 243 software professionals in Bhubaneswar using a previously validated Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-15) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics in terms of number, percentage, mean and standard deviation were presented. Independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance was applied to compare the cyberchondria score between two and more than two independent variables respectively. Results: From 243 individuals 130 (53.5%) were males and 113 (46.5%) were females with mean age 29.82±6.67 years. The prevalence of cyberchondria severity was found to be 46.5%. The mean cyberchondria score of all study subjects was 43.80±10.62. It was significantly higher among those who spend more than 1 hour in the internet during night, feel fear and anxiety in visiting the doctor or dentist, interested in gaining the health-related information from other resources and agreed that gaining health related information has increased after COVID-19 pandemic (p˂0.05). Conclusion: Cyberchondria is a growing issue with regard to mental health in developing countries and has the ability to cause anxiety and distress. Appropriate actions must be taken to prevent it on a societal level.

Understanding individual psychological and behavioral responses during COVID-19: Application of stimulus-organism-response model.

To comprehend the nature, implications, risks and consequences of the events of the COVID-19 crisis, individuals largely relied on various online information sources. The features of online information exchange (e.g., conducted on a massive scale, with an abundance of information and unverified sources) led to various behavioral and psychological responses that are not fully understood. This study therefore investigated the relationship between exposure to online information sources and how individuals sought, forwarded, and provided COVID-19 related information. Anchored in the stimulus-organism-response model, cognitive load theory, and the theory of fear appeal, this study examined the link between the online consumption of COVID-19-related information and psychological and behavioral responses. In the theory development process, we hypothesized the moderating role of levels of fear. The research model included six hypotheses and was empirically verified on self-reported data (N = 425), which was collected in early 2021. The results indicate that continuous exposure to online information sources led to perceived information overload, which further heightened the psychological state of cyberchondria. Moreover, the act of seeking and providing COVID-19 information was significantly predicted by perceived cyberchondria. The results also suggest that higher levels of fear led to increased levels of seeking and providing COVID-19-related information. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are presented, along with promising areas for future research.

Cyberchondria and COVID-19 anxiety and internet addiction among nursing students.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between cyberchondria and COVID-19 anxiety and internet addiction in nursing students. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 843 students studying in the nursing department of Adnan Menderes University. The mean age of the students was 20.8 ± 1.72 years and 61.2% were female. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form were used to collect data. The study found a positive association between internet addiction, cyberchondria severity, and anxiety about COVID-19. It was found that the anxiety of COVID-19 had a mediating role in the association between internet addiction and cyberchondria severity. It was found that the use of the internet as a source of information on health problems and trusting the health information found had a significant effect on high cyberchondria levels (p < 0.05). Taken together, the findings of previous studies and this study on the role of the association between internet addiction and cyberchondria exacerbating anxiety due to the pandemic provide further evidence for healthcare professionals that greater focus is needed on the problems of the new era related to people-internet interaction. To reduce the negative effects of the current health crisis and future health crises, interventions for nursing students to control their internet use and cyberchondria behaviors should be prioritized.

Cyberchondria, Anxiety Sensitivity, Hypochondria, and Internet Addiction: Implications for Mental Health Professionals.

Repetitive online searches for health information increase anxieties and result in Internet addiction. Internet addiction, cyberchondria, anxiety sensitivity, and hypochondria have been studied separately, but how these concepts are reciprocally linked has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the levels, correlations, and predictors of Internet addiction, cyberchondria, anxiety sensitivity, and hypochondria among students based on the sample's characteristics. A sample of 143 university students participated in this cross-sectional online survey. A self-reported questionnaire was employed to collect data from students. The studied concepts had moderate to high correlations with each other and with the students' characteristics. Not getting infected with the coronavirus was among the demographic factors inserted into the regression model that only predicted cyberchondria. The model of cyberchondria was significant and explained 11.5% of the variance in the score of concepts. The results of the standard regression analysis indicated that the model predicting Internet addiction accounted for 41.2% of the variability. Our unique findings indicate that cyberchondria can contribute to developing Internet addiction compared to earlier studies. The findings suggest the importance of empowering students to overcome their anxieties by managing cyberchondria and Internet addiction. Mental health professionals, namely psychiatric nurses, are at the forefront of taking preventive mental health measures on campus, such as screening and referring students who exhibit these problems to psychological support and counseling to cope with their anxieties.

Online Research on COVID-19—The Role of Content Ranking and COVID-19 Fear

Cyberchondria is defined as excessive online health research followed by distress. Theoretical models of cyberchondria suggest that it can be influenced by both characteristics of the internet (content, information ranking, amount and quality of information) and individual vulnerability factors (general health anxiety or COVID-19 fear). In order to simultaneously explore the role of both factors, an innovative search engine software (Foogle) was developed and used in the present study that enables manipulation of the presented content and content ranking while also recording users' online behavior. A total of 36 participants with high and 28 participants with low COVID-19 fear searched for the long-term health effects of COVID-19 using Foogle. They were presented with search engine results that rank long-term health effects of COVID-19 from more to less severe or vice versa (randomized). Results revealed that participants who were presented with articles describing more to less severe long-term COVID-19 health effects accessed articles with a higher mean severity index. In general, participants spent more time on articles depicting more severe content. Participants with high COVID-19 fear felt more anxious post-search than those with low COVID-19 fear and expressed a greater wish to continue searching. © Creative Commons.

Cyberchondria: a Growing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Possible Addictive Disorder?

Purpose of Review: The main purpose of this narrative review is to provide a brief overview of the current empirical evidence regarding the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of cyberchondria, with a focus on the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. Although cyberchondria has been widely associated with anxiety, it has also been suggested that it may be linked to obsessive-compulsive features. A less explored proposal is the categorization of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. The present review explores the existing literature with respect to the possible classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction by considering cyberchondria with respect to components of the interaction of person, affect, cognition and execution model. Recent Findings: There is a lack of consensus regarding the definition and conceptualization of cyberchondria. The empirical evidence available to date suggests that cyberchondria is a multifactorial construct that operates transdiagnostically, particularly with respect to obsessive-compulsive-related disorders and health-related anxiety. The extent to which the condition may reflect a behavioral addiction as a form of problematic use of the internet also warrants consideration. Cyberchondria may have become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular populations prone to health-related anxiety likely having greater vulnerability. Existing data in part support the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction, although many gaps in understanding currently exist. Summary: Cyberchondria appears to be a growing concern. However, there is not yet enough empirical evidence to determine whether this clinical condition has enough similarities with behavioral addictions to be considered as one. Likewise, psychometric instruments that exist to date have not been designed from the theoretical framework of behavioral addictions, so most of the factors that they evaluate may be preferentially related to anxiety. Finally, there is still no consensus on whether cyberchondria should be addressed in the context of health anxiety interventions, OCRD, or behavioral addictions; thus, more empirical evidence is needed.

Coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria among undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A cross-sectional study

Background: Despite widespread rise in anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a paucity of studies of coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria, which is searching for more health-related information, among medical students. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria in the context of COVID-19 in undergraduate medical students. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study done between August 24, 2020 and September 5, 2020. A total of 280 students have given consent to participate in the study by filling online self-designed questionnaire, coronavirus anxiety scale, and cyberchondria severity scale-12. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 20 using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Coronavirus-related anxiety was present in 55% of the students. Moderate and severe cyberchondria were seen in 39% and 50% of the students, respectively. Association between coronavirus anxiety and severity of cyberchondria was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Majority of the students spent >2 h in watching or reading COVID-19 related news. Conclusions: As significant number of medical students had anxiety and cyberchondria related to COVID-19, medical colleges have to implement necessary psychological interventions to safeguard the students' mental health. © 2022 by the Author(s).

Health-Related Cognitions and Metacognitions Indirectly Contribute to the Relationships Between Impulsivity, Fear of COVID-19, and Cyberchondria.

The aim of the study was to converge a structural equation model to unfold the compositive relationships between trait impulsivity, health cognitions, metacognitions about health, fear of COVID-19 and cyberchondria, after controlling for gender, age, marital status, having a chronic illness and chronic illness among first-degree relatives. Six hundred fifty-one participants (423 females, 65%; 228 males, 35%) participated in the study. The Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P), Health Cognitions Questionnaire (HCQ), The Meta-Cognitions about Health Questionnaire (MCQ-HA), Cyberchondria Severity Scale -Short Form (CSS-12), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19 S) were completed by volunteered participants. The structural model showed that the S-UPPS-P directly and indirectly contributed to the HCQ, MCQ-HA, CSS-12, and FCV-19 S. The multi-group structural analysis by gender showed that the structural model had a partial measurement and factorial invariance. We concluded that the significant associations between impulsivity, fear of COVID-19 and cyberchondria were indirectly contributed by health-related cognitions and metacognitions.

Online Research on COVID-19—The Role of Content Ranking and COVID-19 Fear

Cyberchondria is defined as excessive online health research followed by distress. Theoretical models of cyberchondria suggest that it can be influenced by both characteristics of the internet (content, information ranking, amount and quality of information) and individual vulnerability factors (general health anxiety or COVID-19 fear). In order to simultaneously explore the role of both factors, an innovative search engine software (Foogle) was developed and used in the present study that enables manipulation of the presented content and content ranking while also recording users’ online behavior. A total of 36 participants with high and 28 participants with low COVID-19 fear searched for the long-term health effects of COVID-19 using Foogle. They were presented with search engine results that rank long-term health effects of COVID19 from more to less severe or vice versa (randomized). Results revealed that participants who were presented with articles describing more to less severe long-term COVID-19 health effects accessed articles with a higher mean severity index. In general, participants spent more time on articles depicting more severe content. Participants with high COVID-19 fear felt more anxious post-search than those with low COVID-19 fear and expressed a greater wish to continue searching. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Associations Between the Perceived Severity of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cyberchondria, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Lockdown Experience: Cross-sectional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused great panic among the public, with many people suffering from adverse stress reactions. To control the spread of the pandemic, governments in many countries have imposed lockdown policies. In this unique pandemic context, people can obtain information about pandemic dynamics on the internet. However, searching for health-related information on the internet frequently increases the possibility of individuals being troubled by the information that they find, and consequently, experiencing symptoms of cyberchondria. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the relationships between people's perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and their depression, anxiety, and stress to explore the role of cyberchondria, which, in these relationship mechanisms, is closely related to using the internet. In addition, we also examined the moderating role of lockdown experiences. METHODS: In February 2020, a total of 486 participants were recruited through a web-based platform from areas in China with a large number of infections. We used questionnaires to measure participants' perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, to measure the severity of their cyberchondria, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, and to assess their lockdown experiences. Confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, common method bias, descriptive statistical analysis, and correlation analysis were performed, and moderated mediation models were examined. RESULTS: There was a positive association between perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and depression (ß=0.36, t=8.51, P<.001), anxiety (ß=0.41, t=9.84, P<.001), and stress (ß=0.46, t=11.45, P<.001), which were mediated by cyberchondria (ß=0.36, t=8.59, P<.001). The direct effects of perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety (ß=0.07, t=2.01, P=.045) and stress (ß=0.09, t=2.75, P=.006) and the indirect effects of cyberchondria on depression (ß=0.10, t=2.59, P=.009) and anxiety (ß=0.10, t=2.50, P=.01) were moderated by lockdown experience. CONCLUSIONS: The higher the perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the more serious individuals' symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition, the associations were partially mediated by cyberchondria. Individuals with higher perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to develop cyberchondria, which aggravated individuals' depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Negative lockdown experiences exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on mental health.