The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Health Anxiety in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Pregnant women frequently use the internet to obtain health information about pregnancy. The increased anxiety about health during pregnancy can trigger the cyberchondria form of this behavior. This study aimed to investigate cyberchondria and health anxiety in pregnant women. The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 314 pregnant women who visited the obstetrics clinics of two hospitals in western Turkey between October and December 2019. The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-15) and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) were used for data collection. Data were evaluated with parametric tests and correlation analysis. The mean age of pregnant women participating in the study was 28.10 ± 5.19, and 72.6% were unemployed. The CSS-15 mean score was 39.87 ± 8.82, and SHAI was 15.81 ± 6.84. The nulliparous pregnant women, employed university graduates, used the internet almost every day and searched some topics related to pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding and were found to have higher scores on CSS-15 (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between cyberchondria and health anxiety (r: 0.253, p < 0.001). This study showed that cyberchondria severity increases anxiety in pregnant women. Health professionals should also consider cyberchondria when assessing the anxiety of pregnant women.

Keywords:

• Anxiety
• cyberchondria
• information
• internet
• pregnancy

Acknowledgments

The authors at this moment thank all of the pregnant women who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Duygu Gulec Satir

Duygu Gulec Satir, Assoc. Prof. Dr. ([email protected]) Research interest: nursing, health sciences, gynecology and obstetrics nursing, maternal attachment, infertility, natural birth, technology.

Sumeyye Bakir

Sümeyye Bakır, Research Assistant, PhD student ([email protected]) Research interest: nursing, health sciences, gynecology and obstetrics nursing, simulation-based education, breastfeeding, technology.