The Relationship between Health Literacy and Cyberchondria Based on the Mediating Role of Health Anxiety

The Internet is a neutral tool which was initially used to facilitate research in scientific and military institutions, but now it has affected mental health of society. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between health literacy and cyberchondria in women with the mediating role of health anxiety.

The current research method was descriptive-correlational and based on structural equations. Using convenience sampling method, 300 women from Shiraz city were selected as a statistical sample, taking into account the criteria for entering and exiting the research. Data collection was done using McElree and Shelvin's cyberchondria questionnaires, Salkoskis and Warwick's health anxiety questionnaires , and Montazeri et al.'s health literacy questionnaires . Descriptive data analysis and hypothesis testing were done by structural equation method with path analysis approach and using SPSS and Amos software.

The results showed that there was a significant and direct relationship between health literacy and cyberchondria (p=0/05 and β =0/15) and between health anxiety and cyberchondria (p=0/0005 and β =0/60) at 0/001. By entering health anxiety as a mediating variable into the model, an indirect relationship between health literacy and cybercrime was obtained (p=0/0005 and β=0/30).

Considering that more than half of the people have insufficient health literacy, it is necessary to design and implement effective interventions to empower them regarding health literacy. Moreover, it is necessary to provide people with newer methods such as online education in order to obtain more health information.