Investigation of the effect of internet addiction and health anxiety on the cybercondry behavior

Year 2021, Volume: 35 Issue: 1, 281 - 298, 31.03.2021

Sermed Doğan , Füsun Acar , Tuğba Gül Baynal Doğan

Abstract

With the widespread use of technological tools, internet data is among the first consulted sources of information in people’s concerns about the health problem. The aimed situation in here is to reach the conclusion that the symptoms are not a sign of serious illness. However, an attempt to reduce the level of anxiety about a serious health problem, it is thought to will increase the attitude of displaying higher level of stress, anxiety and depression as a resul tos searching for diseases on the internet. It is not known whether this situation is a factor in the online disease seeking process along with the level of anxiety in individuals who have reached the level of excessive time on the internet or internet addiction. Therefore, the research aims to examine the effect of internet addiction and health anxiety on cyberchondria. The research population consist of 373 students from the Health Institutions Management and Business Management programs and Health Management and Aviation Management departments of two state universities in Kayseri. The sample was not selected as it was aimed to reach all students in the specified department and program. Total of participants were 231 students in the survey. In the research findings, it was determined that internet addiction (r=0.224), health anxiety (r=0.274) and cyberchondria behavior (r=0.508) were in mutual relationship. In addition, as a result of hierarchical regression analysis, it was observed that internet addiction (β=0,17, p<0,01) and health anxiety (β=0,47, p<0,01) had a positive and significant effects on cyberchondria. In the study, while nearly half of the participants (49.35%) could be expressed as internet addicts, it was found that their health anxiety levels were low. In addition, it has been determined that internet connection and health anxiety increase cyberchondria behavior.

Keywords

Internet Addiction, Health Anxiety, Cyberchondria

İnternet bağımlılığı ve sağlık anksiyetesinin siberkondria davranışları üzerine etkisi

Abstract

Teknolojik araçların yaygın bir şekilde kullanımı ile insanların sağlık sorununa ilişkin kaygılarında ilk başvuru yapılan bilgi kaynakları arasında internet verisi yer almaktadır. Burada amaçlanan durum, semptomların ciddi bir hastalık belirtisi olmadığı hakkında bir yargıya ulaşmaktır. Ancak önemli bir sağlık sorunu olduğuna ilişkin kaygı seviyesini azaltma girişimi, internetten hastalık arama sonucunda daha yüksek seviyede stres, kaygı ve depresyon sergileme tutumunu da artıracağı düşünülmektedir. Bu durumun ise internette aşırı zaman geçirme ya da internet bağımlılığı boyutuna ulaşan bireylerde kaygı düzeyi ile birlikte çevrimiçi hastalık arama sürecinde etken olup olmadığı bilinmemektedir. Bu nedenle araştırma internet bağımlılığı ve sağlık anksiyetesinin siberkondria üzerine etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma evrenini Kayseri ilinde bulunan iki devlet üniversitesinin Sağlık Kurumları İşletmeciliği ve İşletme Yönetimi programları ile Sağlık Yönetimi ve Havacılık Yönetimi bölümlerinde yer alan 373 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Belirtilen bölüm ve programda tüm öğrencilere ulaşılması hedeflendiğinden örneklem seçilmemiştir. Toplamda 231 öğrenci ankete katılım gerçekleştirmiştir. Araştırma bulgularında internet bağımlılığı (r=0.224), sağlık anksiyetesi (r=0.274) ve siberkondria davranışının (r=0.508) karşılıklı ilişki içerisinde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca hiyerarşik regresyon analizi sonucunda ise internet bağımlılığı (β=0.17, p<.01) ve sağlık anksiyetesinin (β=0.47, p<0.01) siberkondria üzerinde pozitif yönde ve anlamlı etkilerinin olduğu gözlemlenmiştir. Araştırmada katılımcıların yaklaşık yarısı (%49,35) internet bağımlısı olarak ifade edilebilirken sağlık anksiyete düzeylerinin düşük olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca internet bağlılığının ve sağlık anksiyetesinin siberkondria davranışını artırdığı belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

İnternet Bağımlılığı, Sağlık Anksiyetesi, Siberkondria

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