engleski

Online habits and perfectionism as predictors for cyberchondria

The Internet has become a major source of health information. Recurrent and extreme searching for health information on the Internet that is triggered by worry and anxiety often leads to even greater levels of worry and anxiety, a phenomenon called cyberchondria. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of predicting the symptoms of cyberchondria on the basis of socio-demographic characteristics, habits of Internet use and the dimensions of perfectionism. The study was conducted using an online survey, which was completed by 382 participants aged between 18 and 73 years. The results indicate that cyberchondria is more prominent among younger and less educated participants, as well as those who spend more time on the Internet, have lower levels of eHealth literacy and higher levels of negative perfectionism. eHealth literacy and negative perfectionism are the only significant predictors of cyberchondria.

cyberchondria, eHealth literacy, perfectionism

nije evidentirano