Investigation of the Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Cyberchondria Severity Level in Pregnant Women


Kır E., Yılar Erkek Z.

11. Uluslararası 15. Ulusal Ebelik Öğrencileri Kongresi, Kocaeli, Türkiye, 22 - 24 Mayıs 2025, ss.11, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Kocaeli
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.11
  • Yozgat Bozok Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between health anxiety and cyberchondria severity level in pregnant women.

Materials-Methods: The descriptive study was conducted with 153 pregnant women who applied to Yozgat Bozok University Research and Application Hospital and Yozgat City Hospital between 12.08.2024 and 15.05.2025 and who met the research criteria. The research data were collected using the ‘Descriptive Information Form’, ‘Cyberchondria Severity Scale (Short Form)’ and ‘Health Anxiety Scale’.

Results: In the study, the mean age of the pregnant women was 27.63±5.04 years. It was determined that 42.5% of the pregnant women were university graduates and 86.9% of them could access the internet whenever they wanted. The mean total score of Cyberchondria Severity Scale was 31.60±10.30 and it was determined that the cyberchondria level of pregnant women was low. The mean total score of the Health Anxiety Scale was 37.49±10.71. A statistically significant relationship was found between internet access and health anxiety (p<0.05). It was found that there was a weak (r=0,176) but significant (p=0,029) positive correlation between Cyberchondria Severity Scale and Health Anxiety Scale, and the level of health anxiety increased as cyberchondria increased.

Conclusion: It was determined that the level of cyberchondria was low in pregnant women, but health anxiety increased as cyberchondria increased. The significant relationship between internet access and health anxiety suggests that online health information seeking behaviours of pregnant women may affect anxiety. Therefore, it is critical for midwives to help pregnant women develop digital health literacy and direct them to reliable information sources.

 

Keywords: Midwife, Pregnant, Health Anxiety, Cyberchondria