Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Oct 5, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Oct 5, 2023 - Nov 30, 2023
Date Accepted: Mar 22, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Moderating effect of coping strategies on the association between the infodemic-driven overuse of healthcare services and cyberchondria and anxiety: A partial least squares structural equation modeling study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a substantial increase in health information, which has, in turn, caused a significant rise in cyberchondria and anxiety among individuals who search for medical information online. To cope with this information overload and safeguard their mental well-being, individuals may adopt various strategies. However, the effectiveness of these strategies in mitigating the negative effects of information overload and promoting overall well-being remains uncertain.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the moderating effect of coping strategies on the relationship between the infodemic-driven misuse of healthcare and depression and cyberchondria.
Methods:
Data used in this study were obtained from a cross-sectional and web-based survey conducted between April and May 2023 in China. Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment, and Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory was used to measure cyberchondria, anxiety, and coping strategies, respectively. Infodemic and overuse of healthcare was assessed by two self-made questions. Partial least squares structural equation modeling to estimate research model parameters.
Results:
A total of 986 respondents completed the online survey. The mean scores of the GAD-7 and CSS-12 were 8.4 and 39.7, respectively. The mean score of problem-focused coping was higher than those of emotion- and avoidant-focused coping. There was a significantly positive relationship between a high level of infodemic and increased overuse of healthcare. The overuse of healthcare resulted in more severe cyberchondria and higher anxiety levels in all the models. Emotion- and avoidant-focused coping strategies significantly moderated the relationship between the overuse of healthcare and cyberchondria and that between the overuse of healthcare and anxiety, respectively. Regarding the problem-based model, the moderating effect was not significant for the relationship between the overuse of healthcare and cyberchondria.
Conclusions:
This study provides empirical evidence that can inform policymakers in developing strategies aimed at reducing cyberchondria, providing accurate information regarding the pandemic, and promoting adaptive coping strategies to effectively manage future public health crises.
Citation
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Copyright
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