Determination of cyberchondria levels of late adolescents and the factors affecting these levels

Abstract

Objectives

Cyberchondria refers to the excessive and repetitive seeking of online health information. Higher levels of cyberchondria can lead to increased stress and anxiety in adolescents, trigger compulsive behaviors, and impact daily activities. This study aims to determine the levels of cyberchondria among late adolescents and the factors affecting these levels.

Methods

A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted between December 2022 and February 2023 with 300 nursing students from the Faculty of Health Sciences at a foundation university in Istanbul. Data were collected using a structured Data Form and the Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form (CSS − 12). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, with categorical variables summarized as frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables reported as means and standard deviations. Normal distribution was assessed with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test.

Results

The research findings indicated that the mean score for cyberchondria among late adolescents was 32.53 ± 8.04. It was observed that older adolescents, those with illiterate fathers, and those who trusted health-related information on the internet tended to have higher cyberchondria scores. However, factors such as gender, mother's education level, presence of a health professional in the family, time spent on the internet, and the presence of a chronic disease in oneself or in the family did not affect cyberchondria levels.

Conclusion

This study found moderate levels of cyberchondria among late adolescents. Pediatric nurses should implement educational programs to help adolescents critically evaluate online health information. Further research is needed to assess the long-term psychological effects and intervention efficacy.