Factors Associated With Health Perception and Psychological Well-Being Among Third-Age University Students: Cross-Sectional Study on the Role of Cyberchondria

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dc.contributor.authorGundogdu, Semra
dc.contributor.authorOzgur, Ozlem
dc.contributor.authorKilavuz, Asli
dc.contributor.authorTufan, Ismail
dc.date.accessioned2026-09-26T19:13:03Z
dc.date.available2026-09-26T19:13:03Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.departmentEge Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractBackground: With T & uuml;rkiye's aging population and widespread internet usage, the excessive seeking of health information through online platforms, formally identified as cyberchondria, has emerged as a concern affecting older individuals' health perception and psychological well-being. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association of cyberchondria with health perceptions and psychological wellbeing among older participants in a third-age university program. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 352 participants aged >= 60 (mean 67.4, SD 4.7) years from Tazelenme University, Antalya, T & uuml;rkiye, and was conducted between November and December 2024. Data were collected using the Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12), Individual Health Perception Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale for Older People (PWBS-OP). Statistical analyses included correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results: The mean age of the 352 participants was 67.4 (SD 4.7, range 60-87) years, 38.6% (n=136) were first-year students, 69.6% (n=245) were men, 58.8% (n=207) were married, 48.9% (n=172) were university graduates or above, and 65.1% (n=229) had chronic diseases. Significant negative correlations were found between CSS-12 distress, compulsion, and total scores with both Individual Health Perception Scale and PWBS-OP scores (P<.05). According to the multiple linear regression analysis, the presence of chronic disease was the only significant positive predictor of higher health perception levels (B=2.16, 95% CI 1.721-3.593; P=.003), whereas factors such as age, gender, education level, and CSS-12 total scores did not demonstrate a statistically significant impact (P>.05). Psychological well-being (PWBS-OP) was significantly and positively predicted by age (B=0.22, 95% CI 0.037-0.399; P=.02), marital status (B=1.67, 95% CI 1.064-2.716; P=.002), economic status (B=2.10, 95% CI 1.729-3.464; P=.003), and the thought of having an undiagnosed disease (B=3.38, 95% CI 1.038-5.830; P=.007), whereas it was significantly and negatively predicted by medical examinations in the past year (B=-1.29, 95% CI-2.093 to 0.485; P=.002), undergoing examinations without a physician's recommendation (B=-2.04, 95% CI-3.794 to-0.290; P=.02), searching for health-related topics on the internet (B=-1.26, 95% CI-2.152 to-0.360; P=.006), and CSS-12 total scores (B=-0.13, 95% CI-0.261 to-0.060; P=.04). Conclusions: High cyberchondria levels significantly impair older adults' psychological well-being and health perception. While demographic factors positively influence health perception, excessive internet-based health seeking deteriorates psychological well-being. Digital health literacy programs, professional online health counseling, and psychological support should be recommended to target cyberchondria risks in older populations.
dc.description.sponsorship[2025] -- We thank the 60+ Tazelenme University Akdeniz University Coordination and its students for the scientific study conducted under the leadership of & Idot;T. The authors declare the use of generative AI (GenAI) in the research and writing process. According to the GAIDeT (Generative AI Delegation Taxonomy -- 2025) , the following tasks were delegated to GenAI tools under full human supervision: translation. The GenAI tool used was DeepL. Responsibility for the final manuscript lies entirely with the authors. GenAI tools are not listed as authors and do not bear responsibility for the final outcomes.
dc.identifier.doi10.2196/83371
dc.identifier.issn2292-9495
dc.identifier.pmid42628018
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-105050251450
dc.identifier.scopusqualityQ2
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.2196/83371
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11454/134391
dc.identifier.volume13
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001863223900001
dc.identifier.wosqualityQ1
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.indekslendigikaynakPubMed
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherJmir Publications, Inc
dc.relation.ispartofJmir Human Factors
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.snmzKA_WOS_20260922
dc.subjectCyberchondria
dc.subjectThird-Age University
dc.subjectHealth Perception
dc.subjectPsychological Well-Being
dc.subjectOlder Adults
dc.titleFactors Associated With Health Perception and Psychological Well-Being Among Third-Age University Students: Cross-Sectional Study on the Role of Cyberchondria
dc.typeArticle

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