Psychological Predictors of Cyberchondria: The Role of Health Anxiety and Illness Perception in Young Adults

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between cyberchondria, health anxiety, and illness perception among young adults and to investigate the predictive role of health anxiety and illness perception in determining cyberchondriac behavior. A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design was employed. The sample consisted of 240 young adults (120 males and 120 females) aged 18–25 years, selected using stratified random sampling from higher education institutions. Data were collected using the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression using SPSS software. The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between cyberchondria and health anxiety (r = 0.61, p < .01), as well as between cyberchondria and illness perception (r = 0.54, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that health anxiety and illness perception together accounted for 47% of the variance in cyberchondria (R² = 0.47, p < .001). Health anxiety emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by illness perception. The study demonstrates that cyberchondria in young adults is significantly shaped by both emotional factors and cognitive representations of illness. These findings highlight the importance of addressing health anxiety and maladaptive illness perceptions through psychological interventions and digital health literacy programs to reduce excessive online health information seeking behaviors in young populations.