The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health anxiety and cyberchondria levels of university students

Objective Our study hypothesizes that the fear and panic of COVID-19 triggers cyberchondria (CYB) in students thus increasing health anxiety. In this way, we aim to determine the effect of the belief of previously having had and not having had COVID-19 on health anxiety and CYB levels of the university students. Methods Our study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The target population of our study consisted of 950 students who were continuing their education in the Vocational School of Health Services, an associate degree program of a university, and the samples consisted of 794 students (85.5%) who filled out our questionnaire (n = 794). The questionnaire form included the information regarding sociodemographic characteristics and the symptoms of COVID-19, and the obtained data were electronically collected altogether with Cyberchondria Scale (CS) and Health Anxiety Inventory. Findings Health anxiety mean scores were significantly higher in people who lived alone, had a chronic disease, searched for symptoms online, and took herbal supplements against COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The mean total scores of Health Anxiety Inventory, CS, Anxiety-Increasing Factors Subscale of the students who believe they have had COVID-19 were significantly lower compared to the scores of those who believe they have not had COVID-19. Nevertheless, women and people living alone and in cities had significantly high CS scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion The increase in infodemia can be prevented with the services offered by specialists through mental health helpline or websites to people with high health anxiety or CYB levels, especially to women, and to people living alone and in urban areas.