Biography
Biography: Gurkan Ozden
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: Today, although the Internet has become an important source of medical information, it has the
potential to increase anxiety, fear or obsessive behaviour in people. Cyberchondria is a disease in which people search the
internet for signs of disease and believe themselves in the wrong diagnoses on the internet. This disease may invite other
obsessions along with it. Orthorexia is an eating disorder, which is defined as a healthy eating obsession, that interferes with
a person's life and is an obsession with eating natural diet. This study was carried out to examine the relationship between
cyberchondria and orthorexia.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The study was planned as descriptive and relationship seeker. The sample of the
study was formed by adult individuals. The data of the study were collected with Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS), ORTO-
15 and the questionnaire which was created by researchers.
Findings: The average age was 42.3±14 years. 53.2% of the participants were male, 53.5% were single, 35% were high school
graduates, 52% were equivalent to income, 38.4% were using Internet for 0-1 hours a day, 66.2% of the internet resources were
not as reliable as doctors. It was found that gender, marital status and body mass index did not affect the CSS and ORTO-15
scores. Education status and income status were found to affect the average of CSS and ORTO-15 points. There was a significant
difference between the average score of ORTO-15 and CSS’ excessiveness subscale.
Conclusion & Significance: As one of the modern diseases of our age, cyberchondria can cause diseases with psychological
and physical effects, such as orthorexia. Therefore, in order to use the internet in a healthy and efficient way, social programs
and courses related to this subject can be given.