The Relationship of The Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health with Cyberchondria and Vaccine Hesitation: A Health-Themed University Sample

Aim; Health students are individuals who have chosen a health-related profession and will be at the forefront of health services after graduation. In addition, since students studying in health-related departments have more knowledge about health compared to the general population, this may cause them to be more mentally affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With this study, intended to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of health students and the correlation between cyberchondria and vaccine instability. Method; This descriptive and correlational study consisted of 421 students studying at a thematic health university in Türkiye. The data were collected online using the Personal Information Form, Evaluation of Mental and Psychosomatic Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic Scale, Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form, and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale in Pandemics. Results; Significant differences were found between the participants' gender, educational unit, internet usage time, health-related search platform, vaccination status and vaccine dose received variables and scale averages. There was a moderate positive correlation between the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health and cyberchondria, and a negative and weak correlation between vaccine hesitancy. The rate of explaining the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on participants' mental health on the severity of cyberchondria was R2=0.389 and the rate of explaining vaccine hesitancy was R2=0.010. Conclusion; It was concluded that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on mental health was associated with and predictive of health students' cyberchondria and vaccine hesitancy levels.