COVID-19 symptoms, internet information seeking, and stigma influence post-lockdown health anxiety

Background: With the lifting of Zero-COVID policies in China, rapid transmission of the virus has led to new challenges for patients' health anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and health anxiety, as well as the mediation paths between them in individuals infected with COVID-19. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022, following the relaxation of anti-COVID measures in China. A validated online questionnaire was used to collect data from COVID-19 patients on the number and severity of symptoms, health anxiety, internet health information-seeking behavior (IHISB), and perceived stigma. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediation model in which COVID-19 symptoms would affect health anxiety via IHISB and perceived stigma. Results: < 0.001) fully mediated the relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and health anxiety. Conclusion: Interventions for health anxiety reduction during and after pandemics should target improving the quality of online health information, enhancing individuals' online healthy literacy, and reducing stigma.