TY  - JOUR
AU  - Schenkel, Sandra K
AU  - Jungmann, Stefanie M
AU  - Gropalis, Maria
AU  - Witthöft, Michael
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/11/18
TI  - Conceptualizations of Cyberchondria and Relations to the Anxiety Spectrum: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e27835
VL  - 23
IS  - 11
KW  - cyberchondria
KW  - health anxiety
KW  - online health information seeking
KW  - anxiety
KW  - systematic review
KW  - meta-analysis
AB  - Background: Cyberchondria describes the detrimental effects of health-related internet use. Current conceptualizations agree that cyberchondria is associated with anxiety-related pathologies and may best be conceptualized as a safety behavior; however, little is known about its exact underlying mechanisms. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to give an overview of the conceptualizations of cyberchondria and its relation to anxiety-related pathologies, quantify the strength of association to health anxiety by using meta-analyses, highlight gaps in the literature, and outline a hypothetical integrative cognitive-behavioral model of cyberchondria based on the available empirical evidence. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO electronic databases. A total of 25 studies were included for qualitative synthesis and 7 studies, comprising 3069 individuals, were included for quantitative synthesis. The meta-analysis revealed a strong association of cyberchondria (r=0.63) and its subfacets (r=0.24-0.66) with health anxiety. Results: The results indicate that cyberchondria is a distinct construct related to health anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety sensitivity. Further studies should distinguish between state and trait markers of anxiety-related pathologies and use experimental and naturalistic longitudinal designs to differentiate among risk factors, triggers, and consequences related to cyberchondria. Conclusions: Health-related internet use in the context of health anxiety is best conceptualized as health-related safety behavior maintained through intermittent reinforcement. Here, we present a corresponding integrative cognitive-behavioral model. 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - https://www.jmir.org/2021/11/e27835
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/27835
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34792473
DO  - 10.2196/27835
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/27835
ER  -