The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services

Binnur Tağtekin Sezer; Samime Şarlı Gündüz

doi:10.18521/ktd.1878813

The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between cyberchondria levels, sleepiness, and sleep quality among students at a Vocational School of Health Services and to reveal the potential implications of this relationship on students' overall well-being.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted between 15 April 2024 and 01 July 2024 at The Relevant University Vocational School of Health Services. A total of 218 students voluntarily participated in the study. Data were collected via an online survey form. The Sociodemographic Information Form, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Cyberchondria Severity Scale - 12 (CSS -12) were used as data collection tools. Correlation and regression analyses were performed for statistical evaluation.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.93 ± 4.59, and 80.7% were female. It was determined that 50.5% of the students had poor sleep quality (PSQI>5), and 20.2% experienced increased daytime sleepiness. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was found between cyberchondria and sleep quality (r = 0.210; p = 0.0018), as well as between cyberchondria and daytime sleepiness (r = 0.211; p = 0.0017). Regression analysis showed that cyberchondria was significantly associated with sleep quality scores. Furthermore, students with income less than their expenses were found to have significantly poorer sleep quality compared to those with balanced income.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that higher cyberchondria levels are associated with poorer sleep quality and greater daytime sleepiness among students receiving education about health. To protect students' sleep health in the digital age, it is recommended to conduct awareness campaigns regarding cyberchondria, provide sleep hygiene education, and consider socioeconomic risk factors.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this research was obtained from Trakya University Non-Interventional Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Date: 23 October 2023, Decision No: 16/18).

References

Tarhan N, Tutgun Ünal A, Ekinci Y. Yeni kuşak hastalığı siberkondri: yeni medya çağında kuşakların siberkondri düzeyleri ile sağlık okuryazarlığı ilişkisi. OPUS Uluslararası Toplum Araştırmaları Dergisi. 2021;17(37):4253-97. doi:10.26466/opus.855959.
Yorgancıoğlu Tarcan G, Karahan A, Sebik NB. Kısa form siberkondri (CSS-12) ciddiyet ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirliği: sağlık bilişimi alanına özel bir uygulama. Hacettepe Sağlık İdaresi Derg. 2023;26(1):207-18. izlik no:JA63FU63DJ.
Nasiri M, Mohammadkhani S, Akbari M, Alilou MM. The structural model of cyberchondria based on personality traits, health-related metacognition, cognitive bias, and emotion dysregulation. Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:960055. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.960055.
Durak Batigun A, Gor N, Komurcu B, Senkal Erturk I. Cyberchondria Scale (CS): development, validity and reliability study. Dusunen Adam J Psychiatry Neurol Sci. 2018;31(2):148-62. doi:10.5350/DAJPN2018310203.
Sansakorn P, Mushtaque I, Awais-E-Yazdan M, Dost MKB. The relationship between cyberchondria and health anxiety and the moderating role of health literacy among the Pakistani public. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(9):1168. doi:10.3390/ijerph21091168.
Erdoğan A, Hocaoğlu Ç. Siberkondria: bir gözden geçirme. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar. 2020;12(4):435-43. doi:10.18863/pgy.654648.
Starcevic V, Berle D, Arnáez S. Recent insights into cyberchondria. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020;22(11):56. doi:10.1007/s11920-020-01179-8.
Bahadir O, Dundar C. The impact of online health information source preference on intolerance to uncertainty and cyberchondria in a youthful generation. Indian J Psychiatry. 2024;66(4):360-6. doi:10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_715_23.

Indreswari H, Muyassirotul'Aliyah S, Miftachul'Ilmi A, Bariyyah K. Psychological impact analysis on adolescents with cyberchondria: a literature review. Psychocentrum Review. 2022;4(3):367-76. doi:10.26539/pcr.431814.
Yorulmaz M, Göde A, Aydoğdu A, Dilekçi R. Investigation of the effect of internet addiction on cyberchondria. Psychol Health Med. 2025;30(6):1187-98. doi:10.1080/13548506.2025.2458794.
Abu Khait A, Mrayyan MT, Al-Rjoub S, Rababa M, Al-Rawashdeh S. Cyberchondria, anxiety sensitivity, hypochondria, and internet addiction: implications for mental health professionals. Curr Psychol. 2023;42(31):27141-52. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03815-3.
Zheng H, Kim HK, Sin SCJ, Theng YL. A theoretical model of cyberchondria development: antecedents and intermediate processes. Telematics and Informatics. 2021;63:101659. doi:10.1016/j.tele.2021.101659.
Heshmati K, Reisi S, Taheri AA, Lotfi M, Kheirabadi Z. The prevalence of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study among a sample of students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry. 2021;8(4):63-74.
Uzun SU, Zencir M. Cyberchondria and associated factors among university staff. ESTUDAM Public Health Journal. 2022;7(2):257-68. doi:10.35232/estudamhsd.1027589.
Mousoulidou M, Christodoulou A, Averkiou E, Pavlou I. Internet and social media addictions in the post-pandemic era: consequences for mental well-being and self-esteem. Soc Sci. 2024;13(12):699. doi:10.3390/socsci13120699.
Göde A, Öztürk YE. Üniversite öğrencilerinin siberkondri düzeylerinin sağlık kaygısı üzerine etkisinin incelenmesi. Selcuk Saglik Dergisi. 2023;4(Kongre Özel):1-17. izlik no:JA63MD93TG.
Yamuna G, Aswathy Venu K, Sannet T. Internet addiction among young adults amidst COVID-19 pandemic. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. 2021;7(4):17-20.
Fernandes B, Uzun B, Aydin C, Tan-Mansukhani R, Vallejo A, Saldaña-Gutierrez A, et al. Internet use during COVID-19 lockdown among young people in low-and middle-income countries: role of psychological wellbeing. Addict Behav Rep. 2021;14:100379. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2021.100379.
Ciułkowicz M, Misiak B, Szcześniak D, Grzebieluch J, Maciaszek J, Rymaszewska J. The portrait of cyberchondria—a cross-sectional online study on factors related to health anxiety and cyberchondria in Polish population during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(7):4347. doi:10.3390/ijerph19074347.
Patanapu SK, Sreeja CS, Veeraboina N, Reddy KV, Voruganti S, Anusha P. Prevalence and effect of cyberchondria on academic performance among undergraduate dental students: an institutional based study. Ind Psychiatry J. 2022;31(2):228-34. doi:10.4103/ipj.ipj_272_21.
Grover S, Shouan A. Cyberpsychiatric disorders: an overview of assessment and management. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behavior. 2020;25(2):76-92. doi:10.4103/0971-8990.309968.
Starcevic V, Aboujaoude E. Cyberchondria, cyberbullying, cybersuicide, cybersex: “new” psychopathologies for the 21st century? World Psychiatry. 2015;14(1):97-100. doi:10.1002/wps.20195.
Guadiana N, Okashima TL. The effects of sleep deprivation on college students [Bachelor's Thesis]. San Rafael: Dominican University of California; 2021. 43 p.
Hershner SD, Chervin RD. Causes and consequences of sleepiness among college students. Nat Sci Sleep. 2014(6):73-84. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62907.
Albahtiti NH, Khazaei R, Sasa TH, Almuhur E, Alahmad W. Effects of daily activities on academic performance of Applied Science University students. Journal of Sociology and Anthropology. 2020;4(1):8-22. doi:10.12691/jsa-4-1-2.
Feingold CL, Smiley A. Healthy sleep every day keeps the doctor away. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):10740. doi:10.3390/ijerph191710740.
Mıhçıoğlu İ, Malakcioglu C, Mutlu H. Uykusuzluk şikayetleri ve uyku kalitesi temel ölçeğinin Türkçe geçerlilik ve güvenirliği. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2022;15:846-52. doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.971532.
Cheon J, Kim M. Comprehensive effects of various nutrients on sleep. Sleep Biol Rhythms. 2022;20(4):449-58. doi:10.1007/s41105-022-00408-2.
Kohyama J. Which is more important for health: sleep quantity or sleep quality? Children (Basel). 2021;8(7):542. doi:10.3390/children8070542.
Orhan F, Akyüz S, Varol Ş, Tuncer S. Bir sağlık meslek yüksekokulu öğrencilerinin gündüz uykululuk hallerinin Epworth uykululuk ölçeği ile değerlendirilmesi. Uluslararası Sağlık Yönetimi Stratejileri Araştırma Dergisi. 2017;3(3):354-69. izlik no: JA43ZY59GF.
Javaid R, Momina A, Sarwar MZ, Naqi SA. Quality of sleep and academic performance among medical university students. Med Educ. 2020;30(8):844-8. doi:10.29271/jcpsp.2020.08.844.
Slater G, Steier J. Excessive daytime sleepiness in sleep disorders. J Thorac Dis. 2012;4(6):608-16. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2012.10.07.
Hein M, Mungo A, Hubain P, Loas G. Excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents: current treatment strategies. Sleep Sci. 2020;13(2):157-71. doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20190143.
Schlarb AA, Friedrich A, Claßen M. Sleep problems in university students–an intervention. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:1989-2001. doi:10.2147/NDT.S142067.
Zhu X, Zheng T, Ding L, Zhang X. Exploring associations between eHealth literacy, cyberchondria, online health information seeking and sleep quality among university students: a cross-section study. Heliyon. 2023;9(6):e17521. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17521.
Shantakumari N, Elawaddlly SHS, Kanawati AJA, Abufanas AS, Dakak A, Ibham FM, et al. Sleep quality and its daytime effects among university students in the UAE. Oman Med J. 2024;39(2):e612. doi:10.5001/omj.2024.61.
Reis M, Ramiro L, Paiva T, Gaspar-de-Matos M. National Survey on the importance of sleep in the quality of academic life and mental health of college students in Portugal. Sleep Sci. 2021;14(Spec 2):125-32. doi:10.5935/1984-0063.20200090.
Okano K, Kaczmarzyk JR, Dave N, Gabrieli JD, Grossman JC. Sleep quality, duration, and consistency are associated with better academic performance in college students. NPJ Sci Learn. 2019;4:16. doi:10.1038/s41539-019-0055-z.
Radek K, Kaprelian J. Emerging adult sleep quality: health and academic performance factors of assessment. J Sleep Disord Ther. 2013;2(2):1000112. doi:10.4172/2167-0277.1000112.
Găgilă LȘ, Cojocaru T, Pînzariu GM, Sauciuc DG, Lupașcu DE, Sauciuc LA, et al. The impact of sleep patterns on academic performance and social integration among medical students. J Biosci Med (Irvine). 2024;12(8):189-98. doi:10.4236/jbm.2024.128014.
Bogan RK. Assessment and diagnosis of excessive daytime sleepiness. CNS Spectr. 2007;12(S2):7-9. doi:10.1017/S1092852900028340.
Demir A, Ursavaş A, Tana Aslan A, Gülbay B, Çiftçi B, Çuhadaroğlu Ç, et al. Türk Toraks Derneği obstrüktif uyku apne sendromu tanı ve tedavi uzlaşı raporu. Türk Toraks Dergisi. 2012;13(Ek 1): 1-66.
Izci B, Ardic S, Firat H, Sahin A, Altinors M, Karacan I. Reliability and validity studies of the Turkish version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep Breath. 2008;12(2):161-8. doi:10.1007/s11325-007-0145-7.
Buysse DJ, Reynolds III CF, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer DJ. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Res. 1989;28(2):193-213. doi:10.1016/0165-1781(89)90047-4.
Ağargün MY, Kara H, Anlar O. Pittsburgh uyku kalitesi indeksinin geçerliği ve güvenirliği. Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi. 1996;7(2):107-15.
Rubin A, Mangal R, Stead TS, Walker J, Ganti L. The extent of sleep deprivation and daytime sleepiness in young adults. Health Psychol Res. 2023;11:74555. doi:10.52965/001c.74555.
Binjabr MA, Alalawi IS, Alzahrani RA, Albalawi OS, Hamzah RH, Ibrahim YS, et al. The worldwide prevalence of sleep problems among medical students by problem, country, and COVID-19 status: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of 109 studies involving 59427 participants. Curr Sleep Med Rep. 2023;9:161-79. doi:10.1007/s40675-023-00258-5.
Nsengimana A, Mugabo E, Niyonsenga J, Hategekimana JC, Biracyaza E, Mutarambirwa R, et al. Sleep quality among undergraduate medical students in Rwanda: a comparative study. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):265. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-27573-9
Schmickler JM, Blaschke S, Robbins R, Mess F. Determinants of sleep quality: a cross-sectional study in university students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(3):2019. doi:10.3390/ijerph20032019.
Yalçın İ, Boysan M, Eşkisu M, Cam Z. Health anxiety model of cyberchondria, fears, obsessions, sleep quality, and negative affect during COVID-19. Curr Psychol. 2024;43(9):8502-19. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-02987-2.
Zendels P, Ruggiero A, Gaultney J, O'Connor D. Gender differences affecting the relationship between sleep attitudes, sleep behaviors and sleep outcomes. Cogent Psychol. 2021;8(1):1979713. doi:10.1080/23311908.2021.1979713.
McGuffog R, Rubin M, Boyes M, Caltabiano ML, Collison J, Lovell GP, et al. Sleep as a mediator of the relationship between social class and health in higher education students. Br J Psychol. 2023;114(3):710-30. doi:10.1111/bjop.12645.
Wetzel S, Bilal U. Socioeconomic status and sleep duration among a representative, cross-sectional sample of US adults. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):3410. doi:10.1186/s12889-024-20977-w.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration, Health Services and Systems (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Binnur Tağtekin Sezer ^*
0000-0002-7733-8881
Türkiye

Samime Şarlı Gündüz
0000-0001-7414-8874
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 26, 2026

Submission Date

February 9, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 18 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1878813

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA65KW59LM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Tağtekin Sezer, B., & Şarlı Gündüz, S. (2026). The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services. Konuralp Medical Journal, 18(2), 156-162. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1878813

AMA

1.Tağtekin Sezer B, Şarlı Gündüz S. The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2026;18(2):156-162. doi:10.18521/ktd.1878813

Chicago

Tağtekin Sezer, Binnur, and Samime Şarlı Gündüz. 2026. “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services”. Konuralp Medical Journal 18 (2): 156-62. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1878813.

EndNote

Tağtekin Sezer B, Şarlı Gündüz S (June 1, 2026) The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services. Konuralp Medical Journal 18 2 156–162.

IEEE

[1]B. Tağtekin Sezer and S. Şarlı Gündüz, “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services”, Konuralp Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 156–162, June 2026, doi: 10.18521/ktd.1878813.

ISNAD

Tağtekin Sezer, Binnur - Şarlı Gündüz, Samime. “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services”. Konuralp Medical Journal 18/2 (June 1, 2026): 156-162. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.1878813.

JAMA

1.Tağtekin Sezer B, Şarlı Gündüz S. The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2026;18:156–162.

MLA

Tağtekin Sezer, Binnur, and Samime Şarlı Gündüz. “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services”. Konuralp Medical Journal, vol. 18, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 156-62, doi:10.18521/ktd.1878813.

Vancouver

1.Binnur Tağtekin Sezer, Samime Şarlı Gündüz. The Relationship Between Cyberchondria and Sleepiness Levels Among Students at a Vocational School of Health Services. Konuralp Medical Journal. 2026 Jun. 1;18(2):156-62. doi:10.18521/ktd.1878813