Cyberchondria as Digital Psychopathology: Covid 19 Pandemic Example

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the behavior of individuals on a global scale. This study empirically analyzed the relationship between the stress and anxiety of the COVID-19 pandemic, hygiene and protection measures of young individuals, online medical information search and cyberchondria, and online medical support and assistance. Cross-sectional data obtained from 662 online surveys conducted with Atatürk University Communication Faculty students in 2021 were analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling. Study findings; The COVID-19 Pandemic revealed a positive and solid relationship (γ = 0.70; t = 14.26) between Anxiety and Stress and Personal Hygiene and Protection Measures. Furthermore, a positive and robust relationship was found between COVID-19 Pandemic Anxiety and Stress and Online Medical Information Searching on the Internet (γ = 0.42; t = 9.64), and it was also determined that there was a strong positive relationship between Online Medical Information Search on the Internet and Cyberchondria (γ = 0.72; t = 15.07). Finally, a positive and robust relationship was found between Medical Support and Expert Assistance and COVID-19 Pandemic Anxiety and Stress (γ = 0.45; t = 9.24). The findings show that young individuals intensively use online medical information searches during the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation shows that this global epidemic has increased the behavior of cyberchondria and directed young individuals to seek medical support and personal protection measures. In addition, it is seen that people with high anxiety levels develop cyberchondria behaviors to protect themselves from the virus.

Keywords

• Cyberchondria
• Pandemic
• COVID 19
• Digital Psychopathology
• Structural Equation Model.

Dijital Psikopatoloji Olarak Siberkondri: Covid 19 Pandemisi Örneği

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemisi küresel ölçekte bireylerin davranışlarını etkilemiştir. Bu çalışma COVID-19 pandemisi stres ve kaygısının; genç bireylerin hijyen ve korunma tedbirlerini, internetten çevrimiçi tıbbi bilgi arama ve siberkondri ile çevrimiçi tıbbi destek ve yardım arasındaki ilişkiyi ampirik olarak analiz etmeyi amaçlamıştır. Atatürk Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi öğrencileriyle 2021 yılında yapılan çevrimiçi 662 anket çalışmasından elde edilen kesit veriler Yapısal Eşitlik Modellemesi ile analiz edilmiştir. Çalışma bulguları; COVID-19 Pandemisi Kaygı ve Stresi ile Kişisel Hijyen ve Korunma Tedbirleri arasında pozitif yönde ve çok güçlü bir ilişkinin varlığını (γ = 0.70; t = 14.26) ortaya koymuştur. COVID-19 Pandemisi Kaygı ve Stresi ile İnternette Çevrimiçi Tıbbi Bilgi Arama arasında pozitif yönde ve güçlü bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir (γ = 0.42; t = 9.64) ve İnternette Çevrimiçi Tıbbi Bilgi Arama ile Siberkondri arasında pozitif yönde çok güçlü bir ilişkinin olduğu da ortaya çıkmıştır (γ = 0.72; t = 15.07). Son olarak Tıbbi Destek ve Uzman Yardımı ile COVID-19 Pandemisi Kaygı ve Stresi arasında pozitif yönde ve güçlü bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir (γ = 0.45; t = 9.24). Bu çalışmada COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde genç bireylerin çevrimiçi tıbbi bilgi arayışlarını yoğun bir şekilde kullandıkları bulgulanmaktadır. Bu durum genç bireyleri tıbbi destek alma ve kişisel korunma tedbirlerine yönelttiği gibi bu küresel salgının siberkondri davranışını artırdığını da göstermektedir. Özellikle kaygı seviyesi yüksek kişilerin virüsten korunmak için siberkondri davranışlarını geliştirdikleri görülmektedir.

Keywords

• Siberkondri
• Pandemi
• COVID 19
• Dijital Psikopataloji
• Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli.

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