The mediating and moderating role of COVID-19 coping attitudes in the relationship between coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria

OBJECTIVE: The study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between coronavirus anxiety, coping attitudes toward COVID-19, and cyberchondria. It also tests the mediating and moderating roles of coping attitudes in the relationship between coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria. METHOD: The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, the Cyberchondria Severity Short Version and the Pandemic Coping Scale was used in the study. The population of the study consisted of adults aged 20-65 residing in the eight central districts of Ankara, the capital of Turkey (Keçiören, Çankaya, Yenimahalle, Mamak, Etimesgut, Sincan, Altındağ, and Pursaklar). The study used a convenience sampling method, and an online survey has been administered to a total of 427 volunteer participants residing in Ankara's central districts. FINDINGS: Coronavirus anxiety and COVID-19 coping attitudes were significantly associated with cyberchondria, explaining 43% of the variance. More cyberchondrial behavior was observed in individuals experiencing higher coronavirus anxiety or exhibiting stronger coping attitudes towards COVID-19. Coronavirus anxiety showed a statistically significant positive association with cyberchondria (β = 0.426, p < 0.001). Similarly, COVID-19 coping attitudes were also positively associated with cyberchondria (β = 0.181, p = 0.007). However, no statistically significant association was found between coronavirus anxiety and COVID-19 coping attitudes (β = 0.00, p = 0.964, p > 0.05). Additionally, coping attitudes toward COVID-19 did not mediate the relationship between coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria (β = 0.000, p = 0.062, p > 0.05, CI = -0.000, 0.000). Furthermore, coping attitudes did not regulate the relationship between coronavirus anxiety and cyberchondria (β = 0.048, p = 0.212, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study shows that coping attitudes in the face of pandemic-related uncertainty do not function as a buffering or explanatory mechanism in this model.