The relationship of cyberchondry, death and health anxiety in adults with Covid-19 before vaccination

The study examined the relationship between cyberchondria, death anxiety, and health anxiety scores in adult individuals who had contracted Covid-19 before the vaccination period. The sample consisted of adults aged 18-65 in Turkey who voluntarily participated, totaling 570 individuals. The sample was divided into two groups: the study group, which included 240 individuals who had contracted and survived Covid-19 before vaccination (130 women [54.2%] and 110 men [45.8%]), and the comparison group, which included 330 individuals who had not contracted Covid-19 before vaccination (206 women [62.4%] and 124 men [37.6%]). Participants were randomly assigned via the internet. The study utilized a demographic information form, the Health Anxiety Inventory (Short Version), the Death Anxiety Scale, and the Cyberchondria Severity Scale. Statistical data analysis was conducted using the SPSS 27.0 statistical program. Pearson Correlation and multiple regression analysis were applied to examine the relationship between cyberchondria, death anxiety, and health anxiety scores in the study group. Correlation findings indicated a positive, strong, and significant relationship between the total cyberchondria score and death anxiety scores in adults who had contracted Covid-19 before the vaccination period. According to multiple regression analysis findings, death anxiety, cyberchondria compulsion, and cyberchondria distress scores positively and significantly predicted the increase in participants' health anxiety scores. The model explained 73% of the variance (R2=.20). According to the comparison findings, cyberchondria and health anxiety scores were higher in men compared to women, while death anxiety scores did not show a significant difference in terms of gender. According to the one-way ANOVA findings, there was a significant difference between the health anxiety and cyberchondria levels of individuals who had Covid-19 before the vaccination period and the education variable, while death anxiety scores did not show a significant difference according to the education level variable. Another finding of this study was that there was a significant difference between the death anxiety, health anxiety, and cyberchondria levels of adults who had Covid-19 before the vaccination period and the daily internet usage time variable. Finally, an independent sample t-test was conducted to compare the research and comparison groups, and it was found that the research group's death anxiety, health anxiety, and cyberchondria levels were significantly higher than those of the comparison group. The research findings were discussed within the framework of the literature.