The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences
IntroductionCyberchondria has been growing in recent years. Understanding the relationship between e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria is important, as enhancing e-Health Literacy perhaps empower individuals to navigate online health information without experiencing Cyberchondria. The present study...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1421391/full |
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| author | Amirreza Kalantari Saeideh Valizadeh-Haghi Vladan Starcevic Vladan Starcevic Azam Shahbodaghi Shahabedin Rahmatizadeh Farid Zayeri Yasser Khazaal |
| author_facet | Amirreza Kalantari Saeideh Valizadeh-Haghi Vladan Starcevic Vladan Starcevic Azam Shahbodaghi Shahabedin Rahmatizadeh Farid Zayeri Yasser Khazaal |
| author_sort | Amirreza Kalantari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCyberchondria has been growing in recent years. Understanding the relationship between e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria is important, as enhancing e-Health Literacy perhaps empower individuals to navigate online health information without experiencing Cyberchondria. The present study aimed to investigate levels of e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences and examine the relationship between e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria.MethodsTo assess this, a sample of 241 undergraduate students of health sciences were recruited. They were administered two instruments for the assessment of e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria: eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS).ResultsFindings showed that the mean total CSS score was 72.61, while the mean total eHEALS score was 28.50. Students who reported having a chronic disease had a significantly higher mean total CSS score than those who considered themselves healthy. The correlation between the total eHEALS scores and total CSS scores was very weak (r = -0.074). Total eHEALS scores correlated significantly and negatively with the distress (r = -0.288) and compulsion (r = -0.163) CSS subscales and significantly and positively with the reassurance (r = 0.174) and excessiveness (r = 0.141) CSS subscales.ConclusionThe relationship between e-health literacy and cyberchondria is complex. While people may develop cyberchondria irrespective of the level of their e-health literacy, a high level of e-health literacy may be protective in terms of alleviating distress and problems in functioning that occur with excessive online health searches. These findings are likely to inform future studies in this area. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-54aec2c5c46448188a0ebd7a82c837ae |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-54aec2c5c46448188a0ebd7a82c837ae2025-08-20T03:00:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-02-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.14213911421391The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciencesAmirreza Kalantari0Saeideh Valizadeh-Haghi1Vladan Starcevic2Vladan Starcevic3Azam Shahbodaghi4Shahabedin Rahmatizadeh5Farid Zayeri6Yasser Khazaal7Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranUniversity of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, Nepean Clinical School, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Health Information Technology and Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranProteomics Research Center and Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, SwitzerlandIntroductionCyberchondria has been growing in recent years. Understanding the relationship between e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria is important, as enhancing e-Health Literacy perhaps empower individuals to navigate online health information without experiencing Cyberchondria. The present study aimed to investigate levels of e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences and examine the relationship between e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria.MethodsTo assess this, a sample of 241 undergraduate students of health sciences were recruited. They were administered two instruments for the assessment of e-Health Literacy and Cyberchondria: eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS).ResultsFindings showed that the mean total CSS score was 72.61, while the mean total eHEALS score was 28.50. Students who reported having a chronic disease had a significantly higher mean total CSS score than those who considered themselves healthy. The correlation between the total eHEALS scores and total CSS scores was very weak (r = -0.074). Total eHEALS scores correlated significantly and negatively with the distress (r = -0.288) and compulsion (r = -0.163) CSS subscales and significantly and positively with the reassurance (r = 0.174) and excessiveness (r = 0.141) CSS subscales.ConclusionThe relationship between e-health literacy and cyberchondria is complex. While people may develop cyberchondria irrespective of the level of their e-health literacy, a high level of e-health literacy may be protective in terms of alleviating distress and problems in functioning that occur with excessive online health searches. These findings are likely to inform future studies in this area.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1421391/fullcyberchondriaelectronic health literacyhealth literacyanxiety disordersconsumer health information |
| spellingShingle | Amirreza Kalantari Saeideh Valizadeh-Haghi Vladan Starcevic Vladan Starcevic Azam Shahbodaghi Shahabedin Rahmatizadeh Farid Zayeri Yasser Khazaal The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences Frontiers in Psychiatry cyberchondria electronic health literacy health literacy anxiety disorders consumer health information |
| title | The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences |
| title_full | The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences |
| title_short | The relationship between e-Health literacy and cyberchondria in Iranian students of health sciences |
| title_sort | relationship between e health literacy and cyberchondria in iranian students of health sciences |
| topic | cyberchondria electronic health literacy health literacy anxiety disorders consumer health information |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1421391/full |
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