Health anxiety and its relationship with digital health literacy in Hungary

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between digital health literacy and health anxiety is increasingly important in the context of digitized health information environments. The aim of the study was to describe the level of digital health literacy and health anxiety among Hungarian adults and to investigate the background factors that influence both. In addition, the relationship between digital health literacy and health anxiety was to be investigated. A total of 314 participants aged 18 years and older completed an online questionnaire. The survey included the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), independent samples t-tests, Cohen’s d, Pearson and Spearman correlations and a significance threshold of p < 0.05 were applied. Women reported significantly higher health anxiety scores than men (mean = 34.8 vs. 33.0; p < 0.005), especially for the subscale "perceived likelihood of getting sick". Health anxiety increased with age, with the highest scores recorded in those over 65 years of age (p = 0.008). The mean eHEALS score was 30.2 (SD = 6.3). While no significant difference in health anxiety was found between the low and high eHEALS score groups (p = 0.12), a weak but significant negative correlation was found between digital health literacy and health anxiety (ρ = –0.18; p = 0.001), suggesting that higher digital health literacy was associated with lower health anxiety. Women, older adults, and those with poorer self-rated health tended to report greater health anxiety. These findings highlight the potential importance of targeted digital health education for anxiety prevention and health promotion.