Being Pregnant in the Digital Age: Cyberchondria and Pregnancy Anxiety
Öz
Aim: This study aimed to determine the levels of cyberchondria and anxiety among pregnant women and the associated factors.
Material and Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 376 pregnant women. Data were collected using the “Personal and Pregnancy-Related Characteristics Data Form”, the “Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale (PrAS),” and the “Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form (CSS-12)”.
Results: 77.1% of the participants reported searching the internet for answers to their pregnancy-related questions. The mean total scores for the CSS-12 and PrAS scales were 28.14 ± 9.28 and 67.3 ± 13.97, respectively. There was a correlation between the CSS-12, its “distress” and “compulsion” subscale, and the PrAS. Additionally, correlations were observed between the PrAS, its “childbirth concerns” and “baby concerns” subscale, and the CSS-12. Pregnancy-related anxiety scores were higher in multiparous pregnant women compared to primiparous women. A correlation was also found between pregnancy-related anxiety scores and the provision of satisfactory answers to participants' questions by midwives and nurses. Furthermore, age acted as a moderator, weakening the impact of cyberchondria on pregnancy anxiety.
Conclusion: The cyclical consequences of pregnancy anxiety and internet use should be examined, and interventions or recommendations should be developed to reduce the negative impact of cyberchondria on mental health.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Anxiety, Cyberchondria, Digital, Internet, Pregnancy
Etik Beyan
The study was conducted in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration after obtaining ethical approval Başakşehir Çam ve Sakura City Hospital Ethical Commite (approval number 2024/120) on February 16, 2024. The researchers verbally informed all participants about the study’s purpose and procedures and obtained their informed consent before inclusion in the study.
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