The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students

Rahime Aslan; Batuhan Yiğit

doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1905353

The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between cyberchondria severity and psychological symptom intensity, and to identify any regression-based associations of the Brief Symptom Inventory subscales with cyberchondria severity in health sciences students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 475 undergraduate students at the Faculty of Health Sciences of a public university. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale–Short Form, and the Brief Symptom Inventory. Pearson correlation, independent samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and standard multiple linear regression analyses were used (p<0.05). Results: The mean Cyberchondria Severity Scale–Short Form total score was 31.08±8.54, and the mean Brief Symptom Inventory total score was 77.39±41.45. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between the two scales (r=0.31, p<0.001). Regression analysis identified the obsessive-compulsive subscale as the strongest predictor (β=0.259, p<0.001), paranoid ideation as a significant positive predictor (β=0.166, p=0.044), and the depression subscale as a significant negative predictor (β=−0.200, p=0.027) of cyberchondria. Conclusion: The obsessive-compulsive symptoms and paranoid ideation subscales were significant positive correlates of cyberchondria in the regression analysis, suggesting an association with compulsive online health information seeking. The negative coefficient for depression reflected a statistical suppressor effect due to multicollinearity and should not be interpreted as a clinically meaningful finding. Cyberchondria screening and psychoeducational interventions may be particularly relevant for health sciences students.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Project Number

No

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Kütahya Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Ethics Committee (Protocol No. 2025/14-06), and institutional permission was granted by the university administration (Permit No. 217471). All participants were fully informed about the purpose of the study, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to data collection. Participation was voluntary, and confidentiality of all data was ensured throughout the study.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank all students who voluntarily participated in this study.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Rahime Aslan ^*
0000-0002-8301-4656
Türkiye

Batuhan Yiğit
0009-0008-5467-0639
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 20, 2026

Submission Date

March 8, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: April, May, June 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1905353

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA55AS23PT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Aslan, R., & Yiğit, B. (2026). The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 17(April, May, June 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1905353

AMA

1.Aslan R, Yiğit B. The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026;17(April, May, June 2026). doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1905353

Chicago

Aslan, Rahime, and Batuhan Yiğit. 2026. “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 (April, May, June 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1905353.

EndNote

Aslan R, Yiğit B (May 1, 2026) The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 April, May, June 2026

IEEE

[1]R. Aslan and B. Yiğit, “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students”, Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg, vol. 17, no. April, May, June 2026, May 2026, doi: 10.31067/acusaglik.1905353.

ISNAD

Aslan, Rahime - Yiğit, Batuhan. “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17/April, May, June 2026 (May 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1905353.

JAMA

1.Aslan R, Yiğit B. The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026;17. doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1905353.

MLA

Aslan, Rahime, and Batuhan Yiğit. “The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. April, May, June 2026, May 2026, doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1905353.

Vancouver

1.Rahime Aslan, Batuhan Yiğit. The Relationship Between Cyberchondria Severity and Psychological Symptom Intensity in Faculty of Health Sciences Students. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026 May 1;17(April, May, June 2026). doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1905353