METACOGNITIVE BELIEFS AND CYBERCHONDRIA AMONG FINAL-YEAR MBBS STUDENTS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF HEALTH ANXIETY

Abstract

Cyberchondria, the excessive and distressing online search for health information, is increasingly reported among medical students. The metacognitive model proposes that dysfunctional beliefs about thinking maintain health worry and repetitive coping behaviors. This study aimed to examine the effect of metacognitive beliefs on cyberchondria with health anxiety as a mediator, to compare male and female students on health anxiety, and to compare cyberchondria across self-medication, online health information seeking, response to health problems, and main topic searched online. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed. Data were collected from 250 final-year MBBS students (M age = 21.85, SD = 1.12) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, through purposive and convenience sampling. Standardized instruments included the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and Cyberchondria Severity Scale-12 (CSS-12). Statistical analyses comprised descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, linear regression, PROCESS macro mediation, independent-samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests. Metacognitive beliefs showed significant positive correlations with cyberchondria and health anxiety, and health anxiety was positively correlated with cyberchondria. Metacognitive beliefs significantly predicted cyberchondria, and health anxiety significantly and partially mediated this relationship. Female students reported significantly higher health anxiety than male students. Cyberchondria differed significantly across self-medication practice, online health information seeking, response to health problems, and main topic searched online. Findings highlight the role of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and health anxiety in cyberchondria among medical students. Metacognition-focused screening and interventions, and training in the appropriate use of online health information, are recommended to support the mental health of medical students in Pakistan.