ArticleTheScientificWorldJournal2026
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Cyberchondria: A Scoping Review.
Article in TheScientificWorldJournal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Techno-Hypochondria: A Concept Analysis of Wearable Technology-Induced Health Anxiety Among Healthcare Professionals-Implications for Nursing Management.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Associated Factors of Cyberchondria: A Scoping Review.TheScientificWorldJournal · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Cyberchondria, defined as heightened health anxiety and distress arising from excessive online searches about medical symptoms or risks, is an emerging mental health concern in the digital era. However, less synthesized evidence exists on its prevalence, associated factors, and their impact on health. This scoping review synthesized evidence on its prevalence, associated factors, and impacts. Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, four databases (PubMed, Scopus, JSTOR, Dimensions), alongside Google Scholar and reference lists, were systematically searched. A total of 42 studies were included. Prevalence estimates ranged from 30.7% to 55.6%, with consistent links to health anxiety, internet addiction, and anxiety sensitivity. Demographic variations were observed by age, gender, and occupation. Significant predictors included health anxiety, depression, stress, and maladaptive metacognitive beliefs. Reported consequences included self-diagnosis, self-medication, and reliance on safety behaviors highlighting risks for inappropriate healthcare use and adverse mental health outcomes. Addressing these findings requires targeted interventions that promote digital health literacy, responsible online health information-seeking, and early identification of individuals at risk of excessive health-related internet use. Future longitudinal and cross-cultural research should build on these correlates and predictors to clarify causal pathways and inform evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.