Factors influencing health anxiety: the stimulus–organism–response model perspective

Abstract

Purpose

With the popularity of the internet, access to health-related information has become more convenient. However, the easy acquisition of e-health information could lead to unfavorable consequences, such as health anxiety. The purpose of this paper is to explore a set of important influencing factors that lead to health anxiety.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) framework, we propose a theoretical model of health anxiety, with metacognitive beliefs and catastrophic misinterpretation as the mediators between stimulus factors and health anxiety. Using 218 self-reported data points, the authors empirically examine the research model and hypotheses.

Findings

The study results show that anxiety sensitivity positively affects metacognitive beliefs. The severity of physical symptoms has a significant positive impact on catastrophic misinterpretation. Metacognitive beliefs and catastrophic misinterpretation have significant positive impacts on health anxiety.

Originality/value

Based on the S-O-R model, this paper develops a comprehensive model to explain health anxiety and verifies the model using firsthand data.

Citation

Yang, X., Gu, D., Wu, J., Liang, C., Ma, Y. and Li, J. (2021), "Factors influencing health anxiety: the stimulus–organism–response model perspective", Internet Research, Vol. 31 No. 6, pp. 2033-2054. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-10-2020-0604