Review article

Cyberchondria – Health Anxiety Related to Internet Searching

Branka Bagarić orcid.org/0000-0002-1786-0993 ; Croatian Association for Behavioural Cognitive Treatment, Zagreb
Nataša Jokić-Begić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Nowadays, the Internet holds an important place in the process of gathering information regarding health. However, it seems that this can cause an unnecessary concern about health that is referred to as cyberchondria. This review article describes the construct of cyberchondria and its relationship with related relevant concepts – health anxiety and hypochondria. The article presents an overview of research results from this area that have been integrated into three
theoretical models of different levels. The expanded biopsychosocial-digital model explains how biological, psychological, and social factors may together result in health anxiety, with the suggestion that the digital component intensifies and accelerates the described processes. Within the framework of the cognitive-behavioural model, searching the Internet about health information is conceptualized as a trigger in the development of health anxiety, but also as a form of reassurance seeking that reflects health anxiety. Since Internet searching has its specific aspects in comparison with other forms of reassurance seeking, the article also describes the cyberchondria model which explains why searching the Internet about health is continued despite the accompanying anxiety. The article summarizes research on potential risk factors for cyberchondria; on health anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and metacognitive beliefs, as well as their mechanisms. Finally, the article points out the practical implications of researching cyberchondria.

Keywords

Cyberchondria; Health anxiety; Health information seeking on the internet; Biopsychosocial model; Cognitive-behavioural model

Hrčak ID:

218761

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/218761

Publication date:

5.4.2019.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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