The Relationship between Cyberchondria and Health Anxiety and the Moderating Role of Health Literacy among the Pakistani Public

Preeda Sansakorn, Iqra Mushtaque, Muhammad Awais-E-Yazdan () and Muhammad Khyzer Bin Dost
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Preeda Sansakorn: Department of Occupational Health & Safety, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand
Iqra Mushtaque: Department of Psychology, University of Layyah, Layyah 31200, Pakistan
Muhammad Awais-E-Yazdan: Department of Occupational Health & Safety, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand
Muhammad Khyzer Bin Dost: Lahore Business School, University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the current study examines the association between cyberchondria and health anxiety in the Pakistani population, with health literacy as a moderator. This study utilized a cross-sectional research approach, with data gathered through simple random sampling. The study enlisted 1295 participants from Pakistan aged between 18 and 70, 63% of whom were male and 36% of whom were female. The researchers found a statistically significant positive link between cyberchondria and health anxiety (β = 0.215; t = 1.052; p 0.000). The moderating influence of health literacy suggests that health anxiety has a significantly negative effect on the relationship between cyberchondria and health anxiety (β = −0.769; t = 2.097; p 0.037). Moreover, females had higher cyberchondria scores than males. Health-related anxiety did not differ between the sexes, and males had greater health literacy than females. These results emphasize the critical role of health literacy in the moderating effects of cyberchondria on health anxiety. Furthermore, they reveal significant gender differences in both cyberchondria and health literacy.

Keywords: cyberchondria; health anxiety; health literacy; developing country (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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