Health-related Internet habits and health anxiety in university students
Abstract
Health-related Internet use has grown rapidly, yet little research has considered how health anxious individuals use the Internet for this purpose. Our aim was to examine the relationships between health anxiety and the extent of, reasons for, and consequences of health-related Internet usage in university students (n = 255). Responses on a purpose-made Internet use questionnaire were correlated with health anxiety scores; multiple regression analyses controlling for depression and anxiety were also conducted. Health anxiety positively correlated with (all ps < .01): frequency of health-related searching (r(s) = .163), proportion of health-related information sought (r(s) = .200), time spent online for health purposes (r(s) = .166), and number of searches for both illness (r(s) = .453) and wellness (r(s) = .208) information. Health anxiety further positively correlated with advantages perceived in health-related Internet use (r(s) = .183), heightened tension (r(s) = .364) and relief (r(s) = .174) post-search, and perceived doctor disadvantages (r(s) = .306), yet a greater likelihood to visit a doctor post-search (r(s) = .217). Health anxiety also correlated with six measures of possible addiction to using the Internet for health purposes (r(s) range = .171 to .366, all ps < .01). Some (including several potentially dysfunctional) aspects of health-related Internet use correlate with health anxiety. Research evaluating the possible role of Internet use in the development and maintenance of health anxiety is warranted.
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There is evidence of detrimental effects of health-related internet use, such as an increase in worries or health anxiety and an increase in the use of health care resources.
“However, there is also evidence of detrimental effects, such as an increase in worries or (health) anxiety, and as a consequence, an increase in the use of health care resources [11,12]”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [11]
Significant positive correlations were found between health anxiety and 6 indicators of addiction to health-related internet use.
“Moreover, Singh and Brown [11] found significant positive correlations between HA and 6 indicators of addiction to health-related internet use (inter alia, unsuccessfully trying to cut back, negative feelings regarding a real or anticipated loss, negative consequences, and increasing use over time).”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [11]
Positive emotional consequences of health-related internet use were also found, such as relief and calm.
“Besides the reported results confirming the postulated negative emotional consequences of health-related internet use, it should be noted that positive emotional consequences were also found, such as relief and calm [1,11,90].”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [11]
Singh and Brown found a medium correlation between HA and the likelihood of visiting a physician after the search (r=0.22; P<.01).
“Singh and Brown [11] found a medium correlation between HA and the likelihood of visiting a physician after the search (r=0.22; P<.01).”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Singh, K., & Brown, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Singh, Karmpaul
- Venue
- Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-03-03
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 542-554
- ISSN
- 1061-5806 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-2205
- OpenAlex
- W2064935992
- Cited by
- 113
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 9.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Anxiety Stress & Coping (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Keywords
- health anxiety, health-related internet use, university students, health information seeking, illness information, internet addiction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Female, Habits, Humans, Hypochondriasis, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Students, Universities, Health Behavior, Internet, Young Adult, Information Seeking Behavior
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