Compulsive Health-Related Internet Use and Cyberchondria.

Khazaal, Y; Chatton, A; Rochat, L; Hede, V; Viswasam, K; Penzenstadler, L; Berle, D; Starcevic, V

Compulsive Health-Related Internet Use and Cyberchondria.

Khazaal, Y Chatton, A Rochat, L Hede, V Viswasam, K Penzenstadler, L Berle, D

Starcevic, V

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Publisher:: KARGER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: European addiction research, 2021, 27, (1), pp. 58-66
Issue Date:: 2021-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Khazaal, Y
dc.contributor.author	Chatton, A
dc.contributor.author	Rochat, L
dc.contributor.author	Hede, V
dc.contributor.author	Viswasam, K
dc.contributor.author	Penzenstadler, L
dc.contributor.author	Berle, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4861-2220
dc.contributor.author	Starcevic, V
dc.date.accessioned	2021-09-14T04:34:42Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-13
dc.date.available	2021-09-14T04:34:42Z
dc.date.issued	2021-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	European addiction research, 2021, 27, (1), pp. 58-66
dc.identifier.issn	1022-6877
dc.identifier.issn	1421-9891
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150537
dc.description.abstract	Background: Cyberchondria denotes excessive and repeated online health-related searches associated with an increase in health anxiety. Such searches persist in those with cyberchondria, despite the negative consequences, resembling a pattern of compulsive Internet use. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess compulsive health-related Internet use in relation to cyberchondria while controlling for related variables. Method: Adult participants (N = 749) were recruited from an online platform. They completed questionnaires assessing the severity of cyberchondria (via the Cyberchondria Severity Scale [CSS]), compulsive Internet use adapted for online health-related seeking (via the adapted Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS]), and levels of intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety, as well as depressive, somatic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of scores above a cutoff value on the CIUS, indicating compulsive health-related Internet use. Results: The regression output showed that only the CSS total score and sex made a unique, statistically significant contribution to the model, leading to the correct classification of 78.6% of the cases. Of the CSS subscales, compulsion and distress were the most strongly associated with compulsive health-related Internet use. Conclusions: The finding that the adapted CIUS scores are associated with cyberchondria indicates that cyberchondria has a compulsive component, at least in terms of health-related Internet use. It also suggests that compulsive health-related Internet use persists despite the distress associated with this activity. Males may engage in cyberchondria more compulsively than females. These findings have implications for research and clinical practice.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	KARGER
dc.relation.ispartof	European addiction research
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1159/000510922
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse
dc.title	Compulsive Health-Related Internet Use and Cyberchondria.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	27
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-09-14T04:34:42Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	27
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Background: Cyberchondria denotes excessive and repeated online health-related searches associated with an increase in health anxiety. Such searches persist in those with cyberchondria, despite the negative consequences, resembling a pattern of compulsive Internet use. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess compulsive health-related Internet use in relation to cyberchondria while controlling for related variables. Method: Adult participants (N = 749) were recruited from an online platform. They completed questionnaires assessing the severity of cyberchondria (via the Cyberchondria Severity Scale [CSS]), compulsive Internet use adapted for online health-related seeking (via the adapted Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS]), and levels of intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety, as well as depressive, somatic, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of scores above a cutoff value on the CIUS, indicating compulsive health-related Internet use. Results: The regression output showed that only the CSS total score and sex made a unique, statistically significant contribution to the model, leading to the correct classification of 78.6% of the cases. Of the CSS subscales, compulsion and distress were the most strongly associated with compulsive health-related Internet use. Conclusions: The finding that the adapted CIUS scores are associated with cyberchondria indicates that cyberchondria has a compulsive component, at least in terms of health-related Internet use. It also suggests that compulsive health-related Internet use persists despite the distress associated with this activity. Males may engage in cyberchondria more compulsively than females. These findings have implications for research and clinical practice.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150537