Cyberchondria, Coping strategies and Coronavirus Anxiety Among Adults During COVID-19

Abstract

The present study aimed at examining the relationship between cyberchondria, coping strategies and coronavirus Anxiety among Adults during COVID-19. The study also explored the predictive role of cyberchondria, approach coping strategies, avoidant coping strategies and humor coping strategies in prediction of coronavirus anxiety. The role of demographic variables i.e., age, gender, education, diagnosed with coronavirus anxiety and history of anxiety etc. and group differences were also studied. In this study sample of adults was taken from different residential area of Islamabad and Rawalpindi through online Google Doc form. The sample consisted of 302 adults in whom there were (N=110) males and (N=192) female adults. Measures included Cyberchondria Severity Scale ((McElroy & Shevlin, 2014), Brief Cope (Carver, 1997) and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (Lee, 2020). Reliability of all of the scales indicated that these scales were reliable instruments for the respective constructs which they supposed to measure. The findings revealed that there is positive correlation between cyberchondria, avoidant coping strategies and coronavirus anxiety in adults. Whereas there is negative correlation between approach coping strategies, coronavirus anxiety and humor strategies. Significant differences were found between gender, education level, and diagnosis with reference to coronavirus anxiety and history of anxiety on study variables. The research will be useful in the field of mental health because it will allow mental health professionals to better understand how cyberchondria and the type of coping methods can play a big part in coronavirus anxiety and related crises in the future. The study's findings are also useful for people in the field of psychology, as they assist them comprehend the negative impacts of cyberchondria on psychiatric diseases such as coronavirus anxiety.