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Infanti A, Starcevic V, Schimmenti A, Khazaal Y, Karila L, Giardina A, Flayelle M, Hedayatzadeh Razavi SB, Baggio S, Vögele C, Billieux J. Predictors of Cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study using supervised machine learning. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e42206. [PMID: 36947575 PMCID: PMC10170364 DOI: 10.2196/42206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cyberchondria is characterized by repeated and compulsive online searches for health information, resulting in increased health anxiety and distress. It has been conceptualized as a multi-dimensional construct fueled by both anxiety and compulsivity-related factors and described as a "transdiagnostic compulsive behavioral syndrome" which is associated with health anxiety, problematic internet use and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Cyberchondria is not included in the ICD-11 or the DSM-5, and its defining features, etiological mechanisms and assessment continue to be debated. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate changes in the severity of cyberchondria during the pandemic and identify predictors of cyberchondria at this time. METHODS Data collection started on May 4, 2020 and ended on June 10, 2020, which corresponds to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. At the time the present study took place, French-speaking countries in Europe (France, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg) all implemented lockdown or semi-lockdown measures. The survey consisted of a questionnaire collecting demographic information (sex, age, education level and country of residence) and information on socioeconomic circumstances during the first lockdown (e.g., economic situation, housing and employment status), and was followed by several instruments assessing various psychological and health-related constructs. Inclusion criteria for the study were being at least 18 years of age and having a good understanding of French. Self-report data were collected from 725 participants aged 18 to 77 years (mean 33.29, SD 12.88 years), with females constituting the majority (416/725, 57.4%). RESULTS The results show that the COVID-19 pandemic affected various facets of cyberchondria: cyberchondria-related distress and interference with functioning increased (distress z=-3.651, P<.001; compulsion z=-5.697, P<.001), whereas the reassurance facet of cyberchondria decreased (z=-6.680, P<.001). Also, COVID-19-related fears and health anxiety emerged as the strongest predictors of cyberchondria-related distress and interference with functioning during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cyberchondria and identify factors that should be considered in efforts to prevent and manage cyberchondria at times of public health crises. Also, they are consistent with the theoretical model of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic proposed by Starcevic and his colleagues in 2020. In addition, the findings have implications for the conceptualization and future assessment of cyberchondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Infanti
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Maison des Sciences Humaines 11,Porte des Sciences, Esch-sur-Alzette, LU
| | - Vladan Starcevic
- Department of Psychiatry, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, AU
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, Nepean Clinical School, Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Sydney, Sydney, AU
| | | | - Yasser Khazaal
- Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University, Lausanne, CH
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University of Montreal, Montreal, CA
| | - Laurent Karila
- Centre d'Enseignement, de Recherche et de Traitement des Addictions, Hôpital Universitaire Paul Brousse (AP-HP), Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, FR
| | | | - Maèva Flayelle
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH
| | | | - Stéphanie Baggio
- Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Thônex, CH
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, CH
| | - Claus Vögele
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Maison des Sciences Humaines 11,Porte des Sciences, Esch-sur-Alzette, LU
| | - Joël Billieux
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH
- Center for Excessive Gambling, Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, CH
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Mestre-Bach G, Potenza MN. Cyberchondria: a Growing Concern During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Possible Addictive Disorder? Curr Addict Rep 2023; 10:77-96. [PMID: 36785757 PMCID: PMC9909655 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00462-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The main purpose of this narrative review is to provide a brief overview of the current empirical evidence regarding the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of cyberchondria, with a focus on the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. Although cyberchondria has been widely associated with anxiety, it has also been suggested that it may be linked to obsessive-compulsive features. A less explored proposal is the categorization of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction. The present review explores the existing literature with respect to the possible classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction by considering cyberchondria with respect to components of the interaction of person, affect, cognition and execution model. Recent Findings There is a lack of consensus regarding the definition and conceptualization of cyberchondria. The empirical evidence available to date suggests that cyberchondria is a multifactorial construct that operates transdiagnostically, particularly with respect to obsessive-compulsive-related disorders and health-related anxiety. The extent to which the condition may reflect a behavioral addiction as a form of problematic use of the internet also warrants consideration. Cyberchondria may have become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular populations prone to health-related anxiety likely having greater vulnerability. Existing data in part support the potential classification of cyberchondria as a behavioral addiction, although many gaps in understanding currently exist. Summary Cyberchondria appears to be a growing concern. However, there is not yet enough empirical evidence to determine whether this clinical condition has enough similarities with behavioral addictions to be considered as one. Likewise, psychometric instruments that exist to date have not been designed from the theoretical framework of behavioral addictions, so most of the factors that they evaluate may be preferentially related to anxiety. Finally, there is still no consensus on whether cyberchondria should be addressed in the context of health anxiety interventions, OCRD, or behavioral addictions; thus, more empirical evidence is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Mestre-Bach
- Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja Spain
- Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marc N. Potenza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT USA
- Connecticut Council On Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
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Peng RX. How online searches fuel health anxiety: Investigating the link between health-related searches, health anxiety, and future intention. Computers in Human Behavior 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Ambrosini F, Truzoli R, Vismara M, Vitella D, Biolcati R. The effect of cyberchondria on anxiety, depression and quality of life during COVID-19: the mediational role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09437. [PMID: 35600442 PMCID: PMC9107336 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), online health information-seeking behaviors have notably increased. Cyberchondria can be a vulnerability factor for the worsening of anxiety-depressive symptoms and quality of life. The current study aims to understand the predictive effect of cyberchondria on health anxiety, anxiety, depression and quality of life considering the mediating effect of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction and the moderating effect of COVID anxiety. 572 Italian participants (66% female; Mean age = 34; SD = 15) took part in a cross-sectional online survey involving CSS-12, MOCQ-R, IAT, SHAI, HADS, WHOQoL-BREF and CAS. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and Internet addiction were found to partially mediate the cyberchondria-health anxiety and the cyberchondria-anxiety links and to totally mediate the cyberchondria-depression and the cyberchondria-quality of life links. COVID anxiety was found to moderate the relationship between cyberchondria and anxiety. The findings suggest that compulsivity may have a key role in the explanation of the underlying mechanisms of cyberchondria. Healthcare practitioners should provide additional support for individuals with cyberchondria. As such, cyberchondria is a contributing factor to the exacerbation of anxiety-depressive disorders and may impact on the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Ambrosini
- Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Truzoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Clinics Luigi Sacco, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Vismara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Clinics Luigi Sacco, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Italy
- Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutics, University of Milan, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Biolcati
- Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, Italy
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Abstract
Cyberchondria (CYB) is characterized
by excessive online searching for medical information and is associated
with increasing levels of distress, anxiety, and interference with daily
activities. As the use of digital devices and the Internet as a source of
everyday information has increased, particularly during the current
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, so has CYB, becoming an object
of interest to clinicians and researchers. The present review will
provide an overview of the latest updates in CYB research. Emerging
evidence draws attention to various vulnerability factors for developing
CYB, including personal characteristics such as female gender, younger
age, or a history of mental disorder, as well as engagement in particular
forms of online behavior, such as increased use of social media,
increased acceptance of online information, and information overload.
Additionally, recent studies suggest that CYB may itself act as a
mediating factor for increased COVID-19-related psychological burden.
However, the data are still very sparse. Knowledge gaps include a
universally accepted definition of CYB, severity thresholds to help
differentiate nonpathological online health searches from CYB, as well as
robustly evidence-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Vismara
- University of Milan, Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy
- "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Varinelli
- University of Milan, Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy
- "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Pellegrini
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arun Enara
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi A Fineberg
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Chen X, Lin F, Cheng EW. Stratified Impacts of the Infodemic During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey in 6 Asian Jurisdictions. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e31088. [PMID: 35103601 PMCID: PMC8942092 DOI: 10.2196/31088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although timely and accurate information during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for containing the disease and reducing mental distress, an infodemic, which refers to an overabundance of information, may trigger unpleasant emotions and reduce compliance. Prior research has shown the negative consequences of an infodemic during the pandemic; however, we know less about which subpopulations are more exposed to the infodemic and are more vulnerable to the adverse psychological and behavioral effects. Objective This study aimed to examine how sociodemographic factors and information-seeking behaviors affect the perceived information overload during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also investigated the effect of perceived information overload on psychological distress and protective behavior and analyzed the socioeconomic differences in the effects. Methods The data for this study were obtained from a cross-national survey of residents in 6 jurisdictions in Asia in May 2020. The survey targeted residents aged 18 years or older. A probability-based quota sampling strategy was adopted to ensure that the selected samples matched the population’s geographical and demographic characteristics released by the latest available census in each jurisdiction. The final sample included 10,063 respondents. Information overload about COVID-19 was measured by asking the respondents to what extent they feel overwhelmed by news related to COVID-19. The measure of psychological distress was adapted from the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5). Protective behaviors included personal hygienic behavior and compliance with social distancing measures. Results Younger respondents and women (b=0.20, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.26) were more likely to perceive information overload. Participants self-perceived as upper or upper-middle class (b=0.19, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.30) and those with full-time jobs (b=0.11, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.17) tended to perceive higher information overload. Respondents who more frequently sought COVID-19 information from newspapers (b=0.12, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.14), television (b=0.07, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.09), and family and friends (b=0.11, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.14) were more likely to feel overwhelmed. In contrast, obtaining COVID-19 information from online news outlets and social media was not associated with perceived information overload. There was a positive relationship between perceived information overload and psychological distress (b=2.18, 95% CI 2.09 to 2.26). Such an association was stronger among urban residents, full-time employees, and those living in privately owned housing. The effect of perceived information overload on protective behavior was not significant. Conclusions Our findings revealed that respondents who were younger, were female, had a higher socioeconomic status (SES), and had vulnerable populations in the household were more likely to feel overwhelmed by COVID-19 information. Perceived information overload tended to increase psychological distress, and people with higher SES were more vulnerable to this adverse psychological consequence. Effective policies and interventions should be promoted to target vulnerable populations who are more susceptible to the occurrence and negative psychological influence of perceived information overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Fen Lin
- Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Edmund W Cheng
- Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
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Marudachalam J, Ravichandhiran O, Ramalingam K, Ramanathan S, Mahaboob S, Abdul Razack HI. Peak months of pandemic’s first-wave in India: a cross-sectional assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards COVID-19 among internet-savvy individuals. Drugs Ther Perspect 2022; 38:93-102. [PMID: 35194372 PMCID: PMC8830959 DOI: 10.1007/s40267-022-00899-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Kim HS, Ahn J, Lee J, Hong Y, Kim C, Park J, Chung S. The Mediating Effect of Reassurance-Seeking Behavior on the Influence of Viral Anxiety and Depression on COVID-19 Obsession Among Medical Students. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:899266. [PMID: 35770057 PMCID: PMC9234214 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.899266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Healthcare workers experienced great psychological burden due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, medical healthcare workers experienced greater instances of insomnia, anxiety, depression, somatization, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms than the general population. This study aimed to explore the association between viral anxiety and obsession with COVID-19 among medical students with reassurance-seeking behavior as a mediator. METHODS In October 2021, an online survey was conducted among medical students at the University of Ulsan College of Medicine. The clinical characteristics of 162 participants and their responses to rating scales, including stress and anxiety to viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6), Coronavirus Reassurance-Seeking Behaviors Scale (CRBS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items (PHQ-9), and Obsession with COVID-19 scale were collected. RESULTS Medical students' obsession with COVID-19 was based on the PHQ-9 (β = 0.15, p = 0.01), SAVE-6 (β = 0.43, p < 0.001), and CRBS (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) scores (adjusted R2 = 0.49, F = 39.9, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that medical students' viral anxiety and depression directly influenced their obsession with COVID-19, and their reassurance-seeking behavior partially mediated the effects of depression or viral anxiety on obsession with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Medical students' viral anxiety and depression may affect their obsession with COVID-19, and reassurance-seeking behaviors may mediate this. Therefore, medical students should adopt adaptive coping strategies to prevent high levels of viral anxiety and recurrent reassurance-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Sub Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Junseok Ahn
- Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Jukab Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Youjin Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, GangNeung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, South Korea
| | - Changnam Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University of Medicine, Changwon, South Korea
| | - Jangho Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Seockhoon Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Chaudhury S, Dhamija S. Cyberchondria During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Advances in Media, Entertainment, and the Arts 2022:233-251. [DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8630-3.ch013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/19/2023]
Abstract
Many factors govern the behavior pertaining to anxiety regarding health – it may be stressors, triggers, adverse situations faced by people. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, health-related anxiety has been widespread. December 2019 saw the occurrence of a form of pneumonia, not known at that time, from the Wuhan region of China to rapidly proceed into a worldwide pandemic and lockdown. This disrupted normal life across the globe and affected social and economic functioning. Cyberchondria has been one of the coping strategies seen during this time, pertaining to online health-related searches which offer answers and relief as seen at the surface but also bringing a plethora of mental health challenges. The authors in this chapter try to simplify what exactly cyberchondria is and how has it affected the lives of the worldwide population during the COVID-19 crisis, the biggest pandemic of recent times. The origin, development, and prevalence of the concept, along with coping, treatment, and prevention of the condition are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sana Dhamija
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, India
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Heyerdahl LW, Lana B, Giles-Vernick T. The Impact of the Online COVID-19 Infodemic on French Red Cross Actors' Field Engagement and Protective Behaviors: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Infodemiology 2021; 1:e27472. [PMID: 34661065 PMCID: PMC8507423 DOI: 10.2196/27472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been widely described as an infodemic, an excess of rapidly circulating information in social and traditional media in which some information may be erroneous, contradictory, or inaccurate. One key theme cutting across many infodemic analyses is that it stymies users’ capacities to identify appropriate information and guidelines, encourages them to take inappropriate or even harmful actions, and should be managed through multiple transdisciplinary approaches. Yet, investigations demonstrating how the COVID-19 information ecosystem influences complex public decision making and behavior offline are relatively few. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether information reported through the social media channel Twitter, linked articles and websites, and selected traditional media affected the risk perception, engagement in field activities, and protective behaviors of French Red Cross (FRC) volunteers and health workers in the Paris region of France from June to October 2020. Methods We used a hybrid approach that blended online and offline data. We tracked daily Twitter discussions and selected traditional media in France for 7 months, qualitatively evaluating COVID-19 claims and debates about nonpharmaceutical protective measures. We conducted 24 semistructured interviews with FRC workers and volunteers. Results Social and traditional media debates about viral risks and nonpharmaceutical interventions fanned anxieties among FRC volunteers and workers. Decisions to continue conducting FRC field activities and daily protective practices were also influenced by other factors unrelated to the infodemic: familial and social obligations, gender expectations, financial pressures, FRC rules and communications, state regulations, and relationships with coworkers. Some respondents developed strategies for “tuning out” social and traditional media. Conclusions This study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the information ecosystem may be just one among multiple influences on one group’s offline perceptions and behavior. Measures to address users who have disengaged from online sources of health information and who rely on social relationships to obtain information are needed. Tuning out can potentially lead to less informed decision making, leading to worse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo W Heyerdahl
- Department of Global Health, Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Benedetta Lana
- Department of Global Health, Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | - Tamara Giles-Vernick
- Department of Global Health, Anthropology and Ecology of Disease Emergence Unit Institut Pasteur Paris France
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12
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Vismara M, Vitella D, Biolcati R, Ambrosini F, Pirola V, Dell'Osso B, Truzoli R. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Searching for Health-Related Information and Cyberchondria on the General Population in Italy. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:754870. [PMID: 34712159 PMCID: PMC8546113 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.754870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The Internet has become one of the most common sources people use to search for health-related information, a behavior rapidly increased during the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present study aimed to investigate behavioral patterns in the online health-related searches and Cyberchondria (CYB) during the COVID-19 pandemic time, in order to explore socio-demographic and psychopathological factors related to CYB. Methods: During the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, a cross-sectional online survey collected the main socio-demographic variables and habits related to Internet use of 572 participants. CYB was measured by the Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Version and different psychopathological factors were measured by specific questionnaires: the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory, the Meta-Cognitions about Health Questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Test, the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Questionnaire-Short Version, the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF. Descriptives, non-parametric ANOVAs, and Spearman correlations were performed. Results: In the present sample, the Internet was the main source participants used to search for health-related information and nearly one-third increased this habit during the pandemic. Higher expression of CYB emerged in females, in younger participants, in students, and in those suffering from a physical/psychiatric illness. CYB showed a positive correlation with different phenomenology of anxiety (i.e., anxiety about COVID-19, health anxiety, general anxiety, metacognitive believes about anxiety) and with depression, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and problematic usage of the Internet. Conversely, quality of life and self-esteem showed a negative correlation with CYB. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the Internet for health-related information and CYB contribute to the psychological stress affecting individuals and society. Delineating subjects more vulnerable to CYB and associated psychopathological factors will help to elaborate operational indications for prevention and psychological support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Vismara
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,"Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Biolcati
- Department of Education Sciences "Giovanni Maria Bertin", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Ambrosini
- Department of Education Sciences "Giovanni Maria Bertin", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Pirola
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,UniSR-Social Lab, Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'Osso
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,"Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.,"Centro per lo studio dei meccanismi molecolari alla base delle patologie neuro-psico-geriatriche", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Truzoli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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