Predictors of Cyberchondria During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study Using Supervised Machine Learning.

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Ressource 1Download: Infanti_JMIRFR_2023.pdf (373.68 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_0D522C3F5E50
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Predictors of Cyberchondria During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study Using Supervised Machine Learning.
Journal
JMIR formative research
Author(s)
Infanti A., Starcevic V., Schimmenti A., Khazaal Y., Karila L., Giardina A., Flayelle M., Hedayatzadeh Razavi S.B., Baggio S., Vögele C., Billieux J.
ISSN
2561-326X (Electronic)
ISSN-L
2561-326X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2023
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
7
Pages
e42206
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Cyberchondria is characterized by repeated and compulsive online searches for health information, resulting in increased health anxiety and distress. It has been conceptualized as a multidimensional construct fueled by both anxiety and compulsivity-related factors and described as a "transdiagnostic compulsive behavioral syndrome," which is associated with health anxiety, problematic internet use, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Cyberchondria is not included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and its defining features, etiological mechanisms, and assessment continue to be debated.
This study aims to investigate changes in the severity of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the predictors of cyberchondria at this time.
Data collection started on May 4, 2020, and ended on June 10, 2020, which corresponds to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. At the time the study took place, French-speaking countries in Europe (France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg) all implemented lockdown or semilockdown measures. The survey consisted of a questionnaire collecting demographic information (sex, age, education level, and country of residence) and information about socioeconomic circumstances during the first lockdown (eg, economic situation, housing, and employment status) and was followed by several instruments assessing various psychological and health-related constructs. Inclusion criteria for the study were being at least 18 years of age and having a good understanding of French. Self-report data were collected from 725 participants aged 18-77 (mean 33.29, SD 12.88) years, with females constituting the majority (416/725, 57.4%).
The results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected various facets of cyberchondria: cyberchondria-related distress and compulsion increased (distress z=-3.651, P<.001; compulsion z=-5.697, P<.001), whereas the reassurance facet of cyberchondria decreased (z=-6.680, P<.001). In addition, COVID-19-related fears and health anxiety emerged as the strongest predictors of cyberchondria-related distress and interference with functioning during the pandemic.
These findings provide evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cyberchondria and identify factors that should be considered in efforts to prevent and manage cyberchondria at times of public health crises. In addition, they are consistent with a theoretical model of cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic proposed in 2020. These findings have implications for the conceptualization and future assessment of cyberchondria.
Keywords
Cybercondria, Machine Learning, COVID-19, health anxiety, cyberchondria, fear of COVID-19, machine learning, online health information
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
24/03/2023 9:51
Last modification date
01/07/2023 5:48
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