Investigation of the relationships between cybercondria, anxiety sensitivity, somatosensory amplification, and intolerance to uncertainty

Abstract

Objective: Cyberchondria is the behavior of searching for information about health on the internet in a repetitive and continuous manner. It is thought that there is a relationship between cyberchondria, anxiety sensitivity, somatosensory amplification, and intolerance to uncertainty. In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between cyberchondria and anxiety sensitivity, somatosensory amplification and intolerance to uncertainty. Method: A total of 430 people, 254 women and 176 men, participated in this study. A questionnaire form including demographic data form, Cyberchondria Severity Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale and Somatosensory Amplification Scale was applied to the participants. Results: Cyberchondria mean scores were found to be significantly higher for female participants (t(428)=3,445; p<0,01), participants seeking health information on the internet (t(428)=7,720; p<0,001), participants using drugs other than a doctor's recommendation (t(428)=2,669; p<0,01), and those who think they have found sufficient information about health on the internet (t(428)=5,155; p<0,001). As a result of the regression analysis, it was seen that the scores of anxiety sensitivity (B = 0.596; p <0.001) and somatosensory amplification (B = 0.470; p <0.001) were the parameters that significantly predicted the cyberconria score, while the intolerance to uncertainty score was not found as a significant parameter. Finally, in the path analysis, a mediator role of anxiety sensitivity was observed in the relationship between intolerance to uncertainty and somatosensory amplification and cyberchondria. Discussion: A significant relationship was found between cyberchondria and anxiety sensitivity, intolerance to uncertainty, and somatosensory amplification. More comprehensive prospective studies are nee ded to explain the etiology of cyberchondria.