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

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Stuart, Jaimee
O'Donnell, Karlee
O'Donnell, Alex
Scott, Riley
Barber, Bonnie
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2021
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
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. 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.

Journal Title

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note

This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version.

Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Psychology

Social and personality psychology

Information systems

Applied and developmental psychology

COVID-19

depression

health anxiety

isolation

online social connection

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Stuart, J; O'Donnell, K; O'Donnell, A; Scott, R; Barber, B, Online Social Connection as a Buffer of Health Anxiety and Isolation During COVID-19., Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 2021

Collections