Cyberchondria More Common In People Who Fear The Unknown

[Michelle420]

Researchers from Baylor University found that people who dislike uncertainty have worse "cyberchondria" -- that is, online hypochondria -- than those who are less concerned about the future.

"If I'm someone who doesn't like uncertainty, I may become more anxious, search further, monitor my body more, go to the doctor more frequently -- and the more you search, the more you consider the possibilities," study researcher Thomas Fergus, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at the university, said in a statement. "If I see a site about traumatic brain injuries and have difficulties tolerating uncertainty, I might be more likely to worry that's the cause of the bump on my head."

The study, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, is based on data from 512 adults with no medical diagnoses and an average age of 33.

Cyberchondria More Common In People Who Fear The Unknown

You can drive yourself nuts looking up diseases