The mediating role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the relationship between self-esteem and cyberchondria in students

Cyberchondria can be considered one of the emerging challenges in the Internet age. Emphasizing that self-esteem and obsessive-compulsive symptoms are one of the main topics of research in young people, and it is necessary to identify the factors related to the increase of cyberchondria. For this purpose, the aim of the present study was the mediating role of obsessive-compulsive syndrome in the relationship between self-esteem and cyberchondria in students.

The design of the current research was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population studied in the present study were the students of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, 262 of person were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling. McElroy and Shulin's (CSS) cyberchondria questionnaire, Fua et al. (OCD-R), and Rosenberg's self-esteem questionnaire (SES) were used to collect information. Analysis of research data was done using SPSS and Lisrel software.

The results of structural equation modeling showed that the measured model of the research has a good fit with the conceptual model. Regarding direct effects, the results show that self-esteem has a direct relationship with cyberchondria and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Also, obsessive-compulsive syndrome has a direct relationship with cyberchondria. As for the indirect effect, the results showed that obsessive-compulsive symptoms have a mediating effect on the relationship between self-esteem and cyberchondria.

The results of the research showed that obsessive-compulsive disorder plays a mediating role in the relationship between self-esteem and cyberchondria. Paying attention to this impact mechanism can be effective in formulating effective preventive and therapeutic interventions for cyberchondria.