Use of web-based health services in individuals with and without symptoms of hypochondria: survey study
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: An increasing number of people consult physicians because of distressing information found online. Cyberchondria refers to the phenomenon of health anxiety because of online health information. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine online health research of individuals with and without symptoms of hypochondria and their impact on health anxiety as well as behavior. METHODS: An online survey was conducted. Demographic data, health-related internet use, and general health behavior were assessed. The illness attitude scale was used to record symptoms of hypochondria. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of N=471 participants. More than 40% (188/471) of participants showed at least some symptoms of hypochondria. Participants with symptoms of hypochondria used the internet more frequently for health-related purposes and also frequented more online services than individuals without symptoms. Most online health services were rated as more reliable by individuals with symptoms of hypochondria. Changes to behavior such as doctor hopping or ordering nonprescribed medicine online were considered more likely by individuals with symptoms of hypochondria. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that individuals with symptoms of hypochondria do not turn to online research as a result of lacking alternatives but rather consult health services on- as well as offline.
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In a single study of undergraduate students, pain catastrophizing was a unique cognitive and emotional factor that independently, accounting for health anxiety and negative affect, contributes to escalations in health-related distress that results from online health searches.
“The association with CYB has been investigated in a single study of undergraduate students [54], resulting that pain catastrophizing is a unique cognitive and emotional factor that independently (accounting for health anxiety and negative affect) contributes to escalations in health-related distress that results from online health searches.”
From Is cyberchondria a new transdiagnostic digital compulsive syndrome? A systematic review of the evidence (2020) · cites this paper as [54]
Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCurrent and partly inhomogeneous results raise doubts about factors that amplify anxiety during health-related internet use.
“However, current and partly inhomogeneous results raise doubts in this context [13,34,36].”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
The Discussion’s Limitations and Future Research section says further study is needed to clarify how personality traits, online content, and cognitive and emotional processes moderate the relationship between internet use and health anxiety. The Principal Findings section also says few detailed studies exist. These passages support uncertainty about the relevant factors, but they do not characterize the existing results as partly inhomogeneous. (LLM, conf=0.81)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIndividuals with high HA (Illness Attitude Scale≥47) considered dysfunctional behavior (e.g., physician hopping and ordering nonprescribed medication on the web) to be more likely because of health-related internet use.
“Furthermore, individuals with high HA (Illness Attitude Scale≥47 [41]) considered dysfunctional behavior (eg, physician hopping and ordering nonprescribed medication on the web) to be more likely because of health-related internet use [36].”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
The Abstract Results and Results > Health Behavior say participants with symptoms of hypochondria considered doctor hopping and ordering medication online more likely after using online health services. Methods > Material gives an Illness Attitude Scale cutoff of 47, but Results > Sample says the behavioral comparison merged participants with some symptoms and those who could be diagnosed with hypochondria; it does not report this finding specifically for participants scoring ≥47. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe type of web-based service used seems to have an impact: using forums that provide web-based contact with experts or the possibility of sharing with other affected persons seems to alleviate anxiety, whereas using diagnosis systems and video platforms seems to have the opposite effect.
“Furthermore, the type of web-based service used seems to have an impact: using forums that provide web-based contact with experts or the possibility of sharing with other affected persons seems to alleviate anxiety, whereas using diagnosis systems and video platforms seems to have the opposite effect [36].”
From Conceptualizations of cyberchondria and relations to the anxiety spectrum: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
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- Authors
- Eichenberg, C., & Schott, M.
- Affiliations
- Sigmund Freud Privatuniversität Wien (AT)
- Corresponding author
- Schott, Markus
- Venue
- Journal of Medical Internet Research
- Publisher
- JMIR Publications Inc.
- Published
- 2019-06-10
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- e10980
- ISSN
- 1438-8871 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6592511
- OpenAlex
- W2942328857
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 8.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Journal of Medical Internet Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (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
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Health Information Management › Health, Technology, Consumer Behavior
- Keywords
- cyberchondria, health anxiety, online health information, web-based health services, internet use for health, health behavior, attitudes toward illness
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Hypochondriasis, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Telemedicine, Internet, Young Adult
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