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Journals / AYNA Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 13 Sayı: 2

The Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty, Health Information Seeking Behavior and Cyberchondria

Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük, Sağlık Bilgisi Arama Davranışı ve Siberkondri İlişkisi

Ahmet Bülbül(Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen Üniversitesi)0000-0002-2050-5677
Pages
372–392
Publication Date
2026-05-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

As a result, it is recommended to improve digital health literacy and develop psychological coping strategies.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Cyberchondria is a psychological condition that arises when individuals persistently and anxiously engage in repetitive health information-seeking.
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Key Findings & Data:The research was conducted with 327 adults living in Ağrı between March 15 and April 30, 2025.
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Conclusion & Impact:As a result, it is recommended to improve digital health literacy and develop psychological coping strategies.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük · Sağlık Bilgisi Arama Davranışı · Siberkondri

Abstract

Cyberchondria is a psychological condition that arises when individuals persistently and anxiously engage in repetitive health information-seeking. Although there are studies in the literature explaining the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and cyberchondria, the mediating role of health information-seeking behavior in this relationship and the moderating effect of gender have not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of health information-seeking behavior and the moderating effect of gender in the impact of intolerance of uncertainty on cyberchondria. The research was conducted with 327 adults living in Ağrı between March 15 and April 30, 2025. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Health Information-Seeking Behavior Scale, and Short Cyberchondria Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, mediation, and moderation analyses were conducted. The findings showed a significant and positive relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and cyberchondria, and that health information-seeking behavior partially mediates this relationship. Gender, however, did not have a significant moderating effect. As a result, it is recommended to improve digital health literacy and develop psychological coping strategies.

Özet

Siberkondri, bireylerin sağlıkla ilgili bilgi arama davranışlarını tekrarlayıcı ve kaygı artırıcı şekilde sürdürmeleriyle ortaya çıkan bir psikolojik sorundur. Literatürde, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük ile siberkondri arasındaki ilişkiyi açıklayan çalışmalar bulunmakla birlikte, sağlık bilgisi arama davranışının bu ilişkideki aracı rolü ve cinsiyetin düzenleyici etkisi yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlüğün siberkondri üzerindeki etkisinde sağlık bilgisi arama davranışının aracı rolünü ve cinsiyetin düzenleyici etkisini incelemektir. Araştırma, 15 Mart–30 Nisan 2025 tarihleri arasında Ağrı ilinde yaşayan 327 yetişkin birey ile yürütülmüştür. Veriler yüz yüze anket yöntemiyle toplanmış; Belirsizliğe Tahammülsüzlük Ölçeği, Sağlık Bilgisi Arama Davranışı Ölçeği ve Kısa Siberkondri Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Analizlerde tanımlayıcı istatistikler, Pearson korelasyon, aracılık ve düzenleyicilik analizleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük ile siberkondri arasında anlamlı ve pozitif bir ilişki olduğunu, sağlık bilgisi arama davranışının bu ilişkide kısmi aracı rol oynadığını göstermiştir. Cinsiyetin ise bu ilişkide anlamlı bir düzenleyici etkisi bulunmamıştır. Sonuç olarak, dijital sağlık okuryazarlığının artırılması ve psikolojik başa çıkma stratejilerinin geliştirilmesi önerilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Bülbül, A. (2026). The Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty, Health Information Seeking Behavior and Cyberchondria. AYNA Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi, Cilt: 13 Sayı: 2, 372–392. https://doi.org/10.31682/ayna.1741980

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