Who Does Cyberchondria Effect the Most?

Anyone, who browses the web has the potential to suffer from cyberchondria. However, this statement does not answer the question “who does cyberchondria effect the most?” According to studies, “61 percent of Americans turn to the Internet to answer questions about their health” (Lebowitz, 2012).This means a large proportion of the Unite States has the potential to attract cyberchondria, especially those people who come from an older generation. In fact, older generations are more prone to cyberchondria because they can be tricked into believing what they read and see on the internet. According to Dr. Ellen Langer older people who do research online “may take the first result that pops up— even if it’s not the most accurate” (Lebowitz, 2012). From these inaccuracies, older generation could easily pre-diagnosis themselves before seeking accurate information.

In order to help discover the age group or category cyberchondria effects the most, it is important to understand where the word cyberchondria comes from. Cyberchondria is a word derived from the word hypochondria also known as illness anxiety disorder. Hypochondria is when a person worries excessively about becoming seriously ill or believes they are ill ("Illness anxiety," 2015). Using this definition one can see the similarity between these two illnesses. With America’s reliance on the internet combined with hypochondria, it creates the disorder known as cyberchondria.

Now, that hypochondria has been definition it is important to figure out how hypochondriacs use the internet. Regrettably, no studies have been made on how hypochondriacs use the internet (Feature, n.d.) Therefore, to estimate out who cyberchondria effects the most one must take a look at the effect of hypochondria instead. The website www.webmd.com believes hypochondria “tends to develop in the 20s or 30s, and it affects men and women equally” (Feature, n.d.). From this information, it can bet a good portion of these people also suffers from cyberchondria.

On the other hand, it is very hard to determine whether or not people in their 20’s and 30 actually suffers from cyberchondria. One argument suggests that perhaps people in that age category would not suffer from the disorder simply because they are too tech savvy. In other words, people of this generation “are less vulnerable to cyberchondria” because they are “used to reading snarky YouTube comments and celebrity gossip blogs," therefore they “know not everything on the Internet is accurate” (Lebowitz, 2012).

There is not enough information to confirm the exact age category that is affected by cyberchondria. However, it is safe to say whether someone is old or younger cyberchondria can affect anyone who has access to the internet.  Nevertheless, people should be fully aware of medical spoofs found on the web and stay away from any suspicious pop-ups to avoid attracting cyberchondria. 

Feature, W. (n.d.). Internet Makes Hypochondria Worse. Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/internet-makes-hypochondria-worse

Illness anxiety disorder. (2015, July 02). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/illness-anxiety-disorder/basics/definition/con-20124064

In praise of cyberchondria. (2014). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://www.spectator.co.uk/2014/05/in-praise-of-cyberchondria/ 

Lebowitz, S. (2012, January 10). Cyberchondria: Do You Have Serious Health Anxiety? Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://greatist.com/health/cyberchondria-do-you-have-serious-health-anxiety