Investigation of the Relationship Between Information Overload and Psychological Well-Being and Anxiety Levels of Individuals Who Were Diagnosed with Cancer: Descriptive and Relationship-Seeking Research

Objective: Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is a stressful life experience. Individuals need information to help them learn how to cope physically and emotionally with stressful situations. However, receiving excessive and incorrect information about the disease can lead to psychological symptoms such as inability to interpret information, confusion, and feeling overwhelmed. This situation is defined as an information overload. Addressing the information burden and related factors in individuals diagnosed with cancer is important for patients to develop appropriate health behaviors. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between information overload, psychological well-being and anxiety levels in individuals diagnosed with cancer. Material and Methods: The study had a descriptive and correlational design and the sample consisted of 400 patients who were receiving treatment in the outpatient chemotherapy unit. The data of the study were collected by using the ''descriptive information form'', ''Cancer Information Overload Scale'', ''Psychological Well-Being Scale'', and ''State-Trait Anxiety Inventory''. Results: The mean ''Cancer Information Overload Scale'' score of the patients was found to be 17.83±4.65, the mean ''Psychological Well-Being Scale'' score was 47.71±5.81, the mean state anxiety score was 45.49±9.89, and the mean trait anxiety score was 56.58±8.56. A negative relationship was found between cancer information overload and psychological well-being and state anxiety, while a positive relationship was found between trait anxiety (p<0.05). Conclusion: The increase in cancer information overload decreased the level of psychological well-being and state anxiety and caused the level of trait anxiety to increase.