The relationship between COVID-19 phobia and cyberchondria with psychological well-being of health sciences students in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social isolation as a result of social distancing during the pandemic potentially influences the relationships among perceived peer support, emotional well-being, and depression among university students. The research was conducted to determine the relationship between the psychological well-being of health sciences faculty students and their COVID-19 phobia and cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 530 students through social media between January 1 and March 1, 2021. The data were evaluated using the SPSS21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) program, number, percentage, mean and standard deviation and independent groups t-test, ANOVATest and linear regression analysis. The level of significance was accepted as P<0.05. RESULTS: In the study, the cyberchondria score of the group was 39.48±8.16, and 57.0% of the participants were depressed. In the linear regression analysis, it was found that some social determinants, family history of COVID-19 and COVID-19 phobia negatively affect mental well-being (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that more than half of the students did not have good mental status and had COVID-19 phobias. The state of having cyberchondria in the participants is moderate. According to the research findings, it was concluded that psychosocial support and mental health services should be provided to students at risk. © 2024 Edizioni Minerva Medica. All rights reserved.