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Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research

Date Submitted: Dec 26, 2020
Date Accepted: May 3, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: May 20, 2021

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Using Fear and Anxiety Related to COVID-19 to Predict Cyberchondria: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Zhang F, Wu L, Yao Y, Nazari N

Using Fear and Anxiety Related to COVID-19 to Predict Cyberchondria: Cross-sectional Survey Study

J Med Internet Res 2021;23(6):e26285

DOI: 10.2196/26285

PMID: 34014833

PMCID: 8191728

Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.

Fear of Covid-19, Coronavirus Anxiety Predict Cyberchondria: Intolerance Uncertainty and Anxiety Sensitivity as Mediators

  • Fengjiao Zhang; 
  • Lina Wu; 
  • Yexiang Yao; 
  • Nabi Nazari

ABSTRACT

Background:

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a global emergency more than a medical challenge. Primarily studies highlight fear and anxiety generated by COVID-19 as the unique psychological factors affect all population. There is currently still a lack of research on specific amplification factors regarding anxiety and fear in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite established associations between anxiety sensitivity, intolerance uncertainty, and Cyberchondria, there is currently lack of empirical data has investigated the links between anxiety sensitivity, intolerance uncertainty, and Cyberchondria, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective:

the present study was conducted to investigate the links between fear of COVID-19, Coronavirus Anxiety, and Cyberchondria.

Methods:

A convenience sample of 694 respondents (males: 343; females: 351) completed an online survey that included Cyberchondria Severity Scale, Fear of COVID-19 scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Anxiety Sensitively Scale, and Intolerance Uncertainty Scale. Multiple mediation and moderation analysis were conducted using Structural equation modeling.

Results:

The results revealed that fear and anxiety generated by COVID-19 predict Cyberchondria. Intolerance uncertainty and anxiety sensitivity mediate the relationship between fear and anxiety generated by COVID-19 with Cyberchondria.

Conclusions:

The Finding provide further supports to better understand the role of COVID-19 to amplify Cyberchondria.Also, . Cyberchondria may be taught as a public health concerns which can amplify the pandemic consequences.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Zhang F, Wu L, Yao Y, Nazari N

Using Fear and Anxiety Related to COVID-19 to Predict Cyberchondria: Cross-sectional Survey Study

J Med Internet Res 2021;23(6):e26285

DOI: 10.2196/26285

PMID: 34014833

PMCID: 8191728

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