Parental health information seeking online: How cyberchondria and health literacy shape pediatric health decisions
ARCHIVOS ARGENTINOS DE PEDIATRIA, vol.124, no.1, pp.1-9, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 124 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.5546/aap.2025-10771.eng
- Journal Name: ARCHIVOS ARGENTINOS DE PEDIATRIA
- Journal Indexes: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Page Numbers: pp.1-9
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Background: This study aims to determine parents’ cyberchondria and health literacy levels and examine how these levels affect parents’ behaviors regarding their own and their children’s health. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2023. Survey forms were used, and the surveys were filled out face to face. Results: 619 parents participated in the study. The parents’ Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) score was 71.51±22.46 (medium-high), and the Turkish Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32) score was 21.37±6.60 (insufficient); 92.2% of the parents stated that they diagnosed themselves and 91.1% of their children via the Internet, 14.2% of parents and 12% of their children stopped taking their medication due to information they read on the Internet. Conclusion: Parental internet use for health purposes is very high. Inadequate health literacy and high levels of cyberchondria increase the risk of making wrong health decisions. Health professionals should prioritize efforts to increase parents’ health literacy and reduce the severity of cyberchondria.