Health Seeking Behaviour and Health Locus of Control as Predictors of Cyberchondria among the Elderly Residents in Ekiti State

This study examines the relationships among cyberchondria severity, HLC, and health-seeking behaviour (differentiated into online, professional, and traditional searches) among elderly individuals in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was administered to one hundred and fifty elderly participants. Standardized instruments were used: the Cyberchondria Severity Scale, Health Locus of Control Scale and a Health-Seeking Behaviour Questionnaire. The study found that cyberchondria severity was strongly and positively correlated with online health search behaviour and moderately correlated with overall. In the regression model, professional health search and health locus of control emerged as significant predictors of cyberchondria severity. The findings indicate that excessive online health information seeking is associated with increased cyberchondria among older adults, especially for those with a more external HLC. These results underscore the need for interventions that enhance digital health literacy and foster a stronger internal locus of control to alleviate health related anxiety in this vulnerable population. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to further elucidate the causal pathways among these variables