The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria
Shuanghu Fang,1 Iqra Mushtaque2 1School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychology, University of Layyah, Layyah, PakistanCorrespondence: Iqra Mushtaque, Email iqra.fatima89@gmail.comBackground: People are increasingly turning to the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/the-moderating-role-of-health-literacy-and-health-promoting-behavior-i-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM |
| _version_ | 1827388026096975872 |
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| author | Fang S Mushtaque I |
| author_facet | Fang S Mushtaque I |
| author_sort | Fang S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shuanghu Fang,1 Iqra Mushtaque2 1School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychology, University of Layyah, Layyah, PakistanCorrespondence: Iqra Mushtaque, Email iqra.fatima89@gmail.comBackground: People are increasingly turning to the internet to find answers to their health concerns in an era where there is a wealth of online health information, which frequently causes increased health anxiety and the phenomenon known as cyberchondria. The objectives of this study were to examine the moderating role of health literacy and health promotion behavior and the mediating role of emotional regulation between health anxiety and cyberchondria among the Pakistani population.Methods: The study used a self-administered questionnaire to collect and examine health anxiety, emotional regulation, health literacy, health promotion behavior, and cyberchondria in 755 residents. A moderated mediation model of Hayes PROCESS was used to examine this hypothesis.Results: The findings unveiled the average score of the participants on the study variables, as well as their categorization into low, moderate, and high categories. On scale of Health Anxiety participant scores (32% vs 53% vs 15%), Emotional Regulation (25% vs 46% vs 29%), Cyberchondria (18% vs 41% vs 41%), Health Literacy (56% vs 29% vs 15%), and Health promotion Behavior (49% vs 28% vs 23%). Moreover, result revealed that emotional regulation mediates the significant positive association between health anxiety and cyberchondria (β=0.25**p< 0.001). Furthermore, health literacy moderates the negative association health anxiety and emotional regulation (β=− 0.42*p< 0.031), and health promotion behavior also negatively moderate the relationship between emotional regulation and cyberchondria (β=− 0.27*p< 0.22).Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is recommended that health policymakers consider comprehensive national initiatives that focus on educational planning. These initiatives should boost health literacy levels and promote health-related behavior. Additionally, there is urgent need for strict measures to be put in place for monitoring online platforms and websites that spread inaccurate or false health-related information.Keywords: cyberchondria, health literacy, health promoting behavior, health anxiety, emotional regulation |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:10:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d350c7cfdfa546a8a25f748efba4fbe3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1578 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:10:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-d350c7cfdfa546a8a25f748efba4fbe32024-01-07T18:06:43ZengDove Medical PressPsychology Research and Behavior Management1179-15782024-01-01Volume 17516289509The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and CyberchondriaFang SMushtaque IShuanghu Fang,1 Iqra Mushtaque2 1School of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Psychology, University of Layyah, Layyah, PakistanCorrespondence: Iqra Mushtaque, Email iqra.fatima89@gmail.comBackground: People are increasingly turning to the internet to find answers to their health concerns in an era where there is a wealth of online health information, which frequently causes increased health anxiety and the phenomenon known as cyberchondria. The objectives of this study were to examine the moderating role of health literacy and health promotion behavior and the mediating role of emotional regulation between health anxiety and cyberchondria among the Pakistani population.Methods: The study used a self-administered questionnaire to collect and examine health anxiety, emotional regulation, health literacy, health promotion behavior, and cyberchondria in 755 residents. A moderated mediation model of Hayes PROCESS was used to examine this hypothesis.Results: The findings unveiled the average score of the participants on the study variables, as well as their categorization into low, moderate, and high categories. On scale of Health Anxiety participant scores (32% vs 53% vs 15%), Emotional Regulation (25% vs 46% vs 29%), Cyberchondria (18% vs 41% vs 41%), Health Literacy (56% vs 29% vs 15%), and Health promotion Behavior (49% vs 28% vs 23%). Moreover, result revealed that emotional regulation mediates the significant positive association between health anxiety and cyberchondria (β=0.25**p< 0.001). Furthermore, health literacy moderates the negative association health anxiety and emotional regulation (β=− 0.42*p< 0.031), and health promotion behavior also negatively moderate the relationship between emotional regulation and cyberchondria (β=− 0.27*p< 0.22).Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is recommended that health policymakers consider comprehensive national initiatives that focus on educational planning. These initiatives should boost health literacy levels and promote health-related behavior. Additionally, there is urgent need for strict measures to be put in place for monitoring online platforms and websites that spread inaccurate or false health-related information.Keywords: cyberchondria, health literacy, health promoting behavior, health anxiety, emotional regulationhttps://www.dovepress.com/the-moderating-role-of-health-literacy-and-health-promoting-behavior-i-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBMcyberchondriahealth literacyhealth promoting behaviorhealth anxietyemotional regulation |
| spellingShingle | Fang S Mushtaque I The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria Psychology Research and Behavior Management cyberchondria health literacy health promoting behavior health anxiety emotional regulation |
| title | The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria |
| title_full | The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria |
| title_fullStr | The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria |
| title_short | The Moderating Role of Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behavior in the Relationship Among Health Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, and Cyberchondria |
| title_sort | moderating role of health literacy and health promoting behavior in the relationship among health anxiety emotional regulation and cyberchondria |
| topic | cyberchondria health literacy health promoting behavior health anxiety emotional regulation |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/the-moderating-role-of-health-literacy-and-health-promoting-behavior-i-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-PRBM |
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