Prevalence and Affects of Cyberchondria on Health Anxiety in Adult Population of Central Hunza

Abstract

In this age of rapidly evolving technology and digitalization, it is essential to understand both the advantages and disadvantages when carrying out online researches. As the internet is wealth of all kinds of health information. Nearly everyone has access to social media and the internet these days, which may have an impact on psychological health by increasing the risk of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive behaviour when dealing with ambiguous health-related information. Investigating the prevalence and impact of Cyberchondria on anxiety in the adult population of Central Hunza was the aim of our study. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Central Hunza from September 2024 April 2025. A total 260 respondents were approached through Convenience sampling. The results indicated moderate level of Cyberchondria as well as Health anxiety in this population with no significant correlation between both. Moderate levels Cyberchondria was more prevalent in females 127(86.4%) than males 78(69%). About 98 (79.0%) employed had more levels than 78(66.1%) students. This indicates the important factors that influence prevalence of Cyberchondria other than Health anxiety like Intolerance of uncertainty, reliance on traditional remedies than internet and health literacy. Since it’s associated with these factors measures like people's ability to critically assess online health information and their health literacy must be improved. Obsessive behaviours that underlie compulsive health information searching must also be addressed. It can be achieved to minimize the stress and worry brought on by promoting responsible internet use and providing psychological intervention.