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  • Online Social Connection as a Buffer of Health Anxiety and Isolation During COVID-19

    Author(s)
    Stuart, Jaimee
    O'Donnell, Karlee
    O'Donnell, Alex
    Scott, Riley
    Barber, Bonnie
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Stuart, Jaimee
    O'Donnell, Karlee J.
    O'Donnell, Alex W.
    Scott, Riley A.
    Barber, Bonnie L.
    Year published
    2021
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    COVID-19 has given rise to a myriad of social, psychological, and health-related complications. The specific mental health implications of COVID-19 are still being uncovered, but we know that there are likely to be negative outcomes for many people. This is particularly the case for vulnerable members of the community, such as those with high health anxiety, and under conditions where individuals feel isolated or disconnected from others. The objective of this study was to examine whether the level of socially motivated Internet use acts as a buffer of the relationship between health anxiety, isolation behaviors, and depression. ...
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    COVID-19 has given rise to a myriad of social, psychological, and health-related complications. The specific mental health implications of COVID-19 are still being uncovered, but we know that there are likely to be negative outcomes for many people. This is particularly the case for vulnerable members of the community, such as those with high health anxiety, and under conditions where individuals feel isolated or disconnected from others. The objective of this study was to examine whether the level of socially motivated Internet use acts as a buffer of the relationship between health anxiety, isolation behaviors, and depression. Participants (N = 473; 67.3 percent female; Mage = 23.03, SD = 7.50) from Australia completed self-report measures during the height of the national pandemic restrictions (April-May 2020). A regression analysis revealed positive relationships between health anxiety and isolation behaviors on depression and highlighted a three-way interaction effect. Specifically, health anxiety was significantly negatively associated with depression when participants engaged in fewer isolation behaviors. However, at higher levels of isolation behaviors, the relationship between health anxiety and depression was attenuated for participants with greater levels of online social connection. The findings suggest that online social connection buffered the negative effects of health anxiety under conditions of isolation. These results offer promising avenues to mitigate against vulnerabilities during the pandemic and highlight the need to promote alternate social support mechanisms in the absence of face-to-face connection.
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    Journal Title
    Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0645
    Note
    This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version.
    Subject
    Information Systems
    Psychology
    Cognitive Sciences
    COVID-19
    depression
    health anxiety
    isolation
    online social connection
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/402693
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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