Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Cyberchondria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Cyberchondria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Summary/Abstract: Cyberchondria is a phenomenon characterized by individuals engaging in excessive and repetitive online searches for health-related information to alleviate their concerns, which can lead to anxiety and behavioral disorders. Recent studies have shown that intolerance of uncertainty is an important psychological factor that increases cyberchondria, however, there is a notable lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the relationship between these two variables. The aim of this study is to systematically review and meta-analyze quantitative research published between 2020 and 2025 that investigates the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and cyberchondria, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Following a comprehensive search in the Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and DergiPark databases, 21 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The analyses revealed a moderate and significant positive relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and cyberchondria, with no significant effect of moderator variables such as year and country. The findings contribute significantly to the literature by enhancing the understanding of the impact of individual psychological characteristics on online health information-seeking behaviors and highlight the need for future research to consider different methodological approaches and moderator variables.

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