Health anxiety in the digital age: An exploration of psychological determinants of online health information seeking

This study examined factors that may influence health information seeking behaviors among adults. A sample of 245 American adults participated in the study. Structural equation modeling was used to model the relationships between gender, neuroticism, health anxiety, Internet efficacy, Internet use and health information seeking. Results support a model in which health anxiety mediates the relationship between neuroticism and information seeking. In this model, Internet efficacy was also identified as a mediator between Internet experience and information seeking. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify an association between health anxiety and the use of online support groups. The implications of these findings are discussed.