Cyberchondria and Health Anxiety Among Caregivers of Home Healthcare Patients in Eastern Türkiye: Cyberchondria and Health Anxiety

Merve ÖZÇINAR; Ersan GÜRSOY

doi:10.5281/zenodo.15311692

Authors

Merve ÖZÇINAR Çatak Family Health Center, Van, Turkey https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8595-4948
Ersan GÜRSOY Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5020-412X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15311692

Keywords:

Cyberchondria, Health Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Home Care Services, Online Health Information, Caregiver Stress

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between cyberchondria and health anxiety among caregivers of home healthcare patients in Eastern Türkiye.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design conducted from May to July 2023, 240 family members of home healthcare patients were assessed using the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12) and the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI). Socio-demographic data, caregiving duration, and online health information-seeking behaviors were also examined.

Results: The participants reported average scores of 22.36 (±11.63) on the CSS-12 and 17.69 (±11.54) on the HAI. On average, caregivers spent 0.48 hours per day on online health searches. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.404, p < 0.001) was found between cyberchondria and health anxiety scores. While cyberchondria and health anxiety levels were not significantly influenced by marital status, education, or relationship to the patient, a higher level of cyberchondria was observed among female participants (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study demonstrates a significant positive correlation between cyberchondria and health anxiety among caregivers, with a noticeable impact on female caregivers. These results highlight the need for psychological support for caregivers in home healthcare settings and further research into the effects of online health information-seeking behaviors on caregiver mental health.

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Cyberchondria and Health Anxiety Among Caregivers of Home Healthcare Patients in Eastern Türkiye