Differences in Cyberchondria, Internet Addiction, Anxiety Sensitivity, Health Anxiety, and Coronavirus Anxiety Among Students: A Web-Based Comparative Survey

Background: Students' health-related anxiety may exacerbate cyberchondria and internet addiction (IA), especially during pandemics such as the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the associations of students' demographic and academic characteristics with cyberchondria, anxiety, and IA have not yet been examined. Aim: The present study aimed to compare university-level students' scores in cyberchondria, IA, and anxiety (i.e. anxiety sensitivity, health anxiety, and coronavirus anxiety) based on students' characteristics of number of years online, grade point average (GPA), the field of study, year of study, gender, and the availability of Internet access at school. Methods: Data were collected using valid questionnaires from 143 university-level students via a web-based survey. Results: Cyberchondria levels were moderate, IA mild, anxiety sensitivity low, health anxiety typical, and coronavirus anxiety functional. No significant differences in the total scores of the compared variables were noted between the compared groups. However, some individual items differed, as follows: 1) Cyberchondria differed according to the student's GPA and the availability of the Internet access at school and 2) IA differed according to all characteristics; and 3) anxiety sensitivity and health anxiety differed according to students' GPA. Conclusions: The students did not demonstrate high levels of cyberchondria, IA, anxiety sensitivity, or anxiety caused by searching for online health information. Conceptual differences in the concepts can be used in designing interventions to help students prevent and manage such challenges and address avoidance behaviors.