200-710 information search - Zend Certified Engineer Updated: 2024

In the age of "Dr. Google," it can be tempting to click your way to self-diagnosis — but an overload of health information can cause its own set of symptoms.

"Cyberchondria," a subset of health anxiety, is described as a condition in which an individual excessively searches for health information online. 

While cyberchrondria may not start as a physical disease, it can cause intense levels of anxiety and fear that can negatively impact a person's health, according to Dr. Maggie Williams, a family physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, and medical director for MDLIVE Virtual Primary Care.

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Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, said he and his colleagues used to call the condition "medical students' disease."

"When you know a little, but not enough, you imagine you have everything and constantly worry," he told Fox News Digital.

Although cyberchondria is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a formal diagnosis, it’s thought to be closely related to hypochrondria, a more general heightened anxiety about one’s health.

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In 2014, two U.K. researchers, Eoin McElroy and Mark Shevlin, created a "cyberchrondria severity scale" that measures a person's score across eight areas: compulsion, distress, excessiveness, reassurance seeking and mistrust of medical professionals.

Growing prevalence of cyberchrondria

As Siegel pointed out, the condition is becoming more common over time. 

"The invention of the internet and then the perfection of search engines created a global hypochondria, where patients searched to find possible explanations for their symptoms," he said.

"It especially increased during the pandemic, when dogma abounded and everyone was suddenly an expert," Siegel added.

A study published in JIMR Formative Research last year found that COVID-19 caused a spike in the condition in spring 2020, as people experienced higher levels of "cyberchondria-related distress and compulsion during the pandemic."

"The invention of the internet and then the perfection of search engines created a global hypochondria, where patients searched to find possible explanations for their symptoms."

One user shared experiences with cyberchrondria on Reddit: "I thought that I might see something that will ease my mind, but … it makes it all worse and worse. Out of the 100 times I checked a symptom online, only 10 of them kinda made me feel safe."

Another user wrote, "I'm pretty sure I have this. The pandemic definitely made my health anxiety worse. Unfortunately, the pandemic also made it harder to get in to see a doctor in a timely manner and so the internet is the next logical place to look for answers."

In a small study by MDLIVE Virtual Primary Care, more than half of respondents said they searched online instead of going to the doctor, and more than two in five (42%) turned to social media to ask about their symptoms.

Another 22% said they rely on artificial intelligence for medical answers.

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Nearly half of the 518 respondents, who provided data in August 2023, said they have misdiagnosed or mistreated an issue based on information they found online.

As Siegel warned, online medical information "isn't often accurate, and it isn't filtered, and it lacks clinical judgment."

Telltale signs of cyberchondria

Several signs may indicate that people are experiencing cyberchondria, Williams said.

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"Most people may not recognize the symptoms before it’s too late, after they’ve invested hours, delayed access to the doctor and worsened their overall anxiety," she told Fox News Digital.

One warning sign is spending one to three hours or more at a time searching for symptoms online.

A quarter of the survey respondents said that when experiencing a health issue, they spend more than one hour searching for their symptoms online.

Obsessive medical searches may also get in the way of day-to-day activities, Williams noted.

In the MDLIVE study, 41% of respondents said that compulsively searching for symptoms has gotten in the way of their daily tasks.

"Most people may not recognize the symptoms before it’s too late, after they’ve invested hours, delayed access to the doctor and worsened their overall anxiety."

"You may feel a compulsion to search online constantly, often rechecking symptoms multiple times, despite having completed an exhaustive search," Williams said.

Another symptom of cyberchrondria is high levels of distress and anxiety when searching for symptoms online — an rather than easing of concerns.

Fifty-eight percent of the participants in MDLIVE’s study said that searching online for their symptoms made them more anxious. 

"You may also have a heightened fixation on a particularly serious disease or condition, despite any evidence that you are suffering from it," Williams added.

Addressing or preventing cyberchondria

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of cyberchondria, Williams said it’s important to set boundaries on the time spent searching for health information online. 

"Resist the urge to check and recheck symptoms," she advised.

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She also recommends avoiding "deep diving" into online forums or threads where people share "worst-case scenarios." 

"These tend to be exceptions rather than the rule, which can unnecessarily increase your anxiety," she said.

It’s best to consult with a health care professional at the onset of any symptoms, Williams advised. 

"They can provide accurate information about your health concerns, potentially helping you to sidestep the slippery slope of cyberchondria," she said.

Siegel noted that as a physician, one of his jobs is to help patients sort through their fears and worries and put them in perspective of real risk and disease. 

"You may also have a heightened fixation on a particularly serious disease or condition, despite any evidence that you are suffering from it."

"This is even more the case with social media, where you end up searching through videos — especially TikTok — and become convinced you have a disease," he said. "This all increases anxiety and is bad for health."

For those who might have trouble physically getting to a doctor’s office, Williams suggested setting up a telehealth visit to address concerns in a timely manner, which will reduce the temptation to dive into online searching.

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It's important to address cyberchrondria seriously, just as you would with any other health issue, she said.

"If you're experiencing anxiety related to your health, you may find it helpful to speak with a mental health professional."

While there are some reputable sources of health information on the internet, not all online information is factual or trustworthy.

"I still rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes for Health, Mayo Clinic, NYU Langone and CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)," said Siegel.

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That said, he warned that even vetted medical websites can still sometimes be wrong.

For those suffering from cyberchondria, Siegel advised them to find a doctor they can trust who can help guide them, while at the same time pulling back from online sources.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

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Students who successfully complete a certification program at Southern New Hampshire University may be recommended to the State of New Hampshire Board of Education for initial or secondary NH State Licensure. Students teaching in states other than New Hampshire are responsible for checking with their state board of education to determine reciprocity or other inter-state agreements between NH and their home, teaching state.

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Students seeking secondary NH licensure at Southern New Hampshire University are responsible for identifying the licensure requirements within their state of teacher employment.

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An official withdrawal refers to an action taken by the student at SNHU to discontinue his/her enrollment. Students who use federal financial aid and/or military benefits and fail all courses in a term will be reviewed for participation. Students who cease participation in graded activities before completing through 60% of the term will be classified as receiving an "unearned F" which is defined as an unofficial withdrawal.

Financial Assistance Information

Every student should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for federal financial aid programs if financial assistance is needed, Students and their families should understand the FAFSA process, eligibility requirements to apply with the FAFSA, dependency status, and the importance and use of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID.

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Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the student's educational expenses to maintain a reasonable/moderate standard of living for a period of enrollment and is not the amount paid directly to Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The COA is used when calculating a student's eligibility for financial aid only. The COA includes both direct costs (tuition, fees and on campus living expenses paid directly to SNHU if applicable) and indirect costs (living, books, transportation and personal expenses).

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• Federal Student Aid Fraud Statement

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) actively seeks to protect students, agencies, and the educational system at large from potential fraud, identity theft, or other unlawful activities. For this purpose, SNHU reserves the right to request additional documentation and suspend financial aid eligibility pending the resolution of any conflicting information received during the admission, financial aid, or registration process. Please see the Department of Education CFR 668.16 for additional information regarding fraud prevention regulations.

• Financial Aid Programs

  There are several need-based and non-need based federal, state, local, private and institutional student financial assistance programs available to SNHU students.

  • Federal, State, Grants and Scholarships - SNHU offers several types of need and non-need based grants and scholarships to help students meet the cost of the University's education. Grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid. 
  • Federal Work-Study - Federal Work-Study is a need-based program that allows undergraduate and graduate students to earn money through part-time employment to help pay education costs.
  • Student and Parent Loans - Federal Loan programs include the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, Federal Parent PLUS Loan, and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Alternative loans are educational loans through a private lender. All loans are borrowed funds that require repayment in accordance with signed promissory notes.

All financial aid award offers are based on enrollment pattern, and are dependent upon a determination of eligibility based on grade level, whether or not priority application deadlines have been met (if applicable), and other program specific criteria at the time of the award offer. All undergraduate and graduate degree programs are eligible by the Department of Education to use federal financial aid to assist with the cost of an SNHU education. Enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by SNHU is considered enrollment for the purposes of applying for federal student financial aid as well. The following information and disclosures are aggregated in this section:

• Rights and Responsibilities - Students are obligated to know and understand their rights and responsibilities as a financial aid applicant, recipient, student loan borrower, and federal work-study employee.
• Awarding of Aid - Students should understand the (1) Financial Need calculation and (2) the Non-need Based Aid calculation used with the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to determine a student's financial aid award.
• Reporting Additional Financial Aid Awards - Students are required to report all outside assistance received for attending SNHU (i.e.: military benefits, employer reimbursement, outside scholarships, etc.)
• Over-awards of Aid - SNHU is required to resolve any over-award situation that may occur due to enrollment changes, notification of additional aid sources, FAFSA corrections, etc. Overawards may result in a balance due to the University which is the responsibility of the student.
• College Financing Plan - SNHU complies with the Principles of Excellence Executive Order and participates in the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum (DoD MOU) to provide the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet to all military affiliated students awarded federal student aid.
• Verification - Verification requires that the University review additional documents to verify the information reported on the FAFSA for the student, parent(s) and spouse.
• Secondary Confirmation - SNHU reserves the right to select any student's file for secondary confirmation which requires additional documents to prove identity to prevent Title IV fraud and abuse.
• Enrollment Requirements for Aid - Aid is awarded based off of average enrollment and is disbursed based off of real enrollment in the payment period.
• Disbursement of Aid - Financial aid is paid (disbursed) through an academic year or remaining period of study during each payment period or academic term based on program with eligibility checks to confirm attendance, program, enrollment and the completion of loan requirements.
• Use of Aid - SNHU applies federal financial aid directly to institutional charges (tuition, fees, on campus housing, book vouchers, etc.) only and any remaining funds are released to the student in form of a refund. Students may electronically authorize the use of Title IV to pay non-institutional charges and parents may authorize Parent PLUS loans through a paper-form process.
• Credit Balances and Refunds - SNHU provides Title IV students a method to purchase books and supplies prior to the beginning of the term through a book voucher program or Penmen Cash account based off of academic program. Students may opt out by not using the process provided. SNHU processes refunds through BankMobile. For more information about BankMobile, visit this link: http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/.
• Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations - If a student, receiving Title IV funding, has been convicted of an offense involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs while enrolled, then the student become ineligible to receive Title IV funds.
• Duration and Renewal of Aid - Federal financial aid is awarded one academic year at a time and the FAFSA is required to be renewed on or after October 1st each year.

Southern New Hampshire University has an 80-year history of helping military service members and their families pursue an education, at home and abroad. SNHU offers discounts for active-duty service members and their spouses working toward an online degree. In addition SNHU also accepts Tuition Assistance (TA), Post-9/11 GI Bill^®, Montgomery GI Bill benefits, and Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits. SNHU also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program that funds tuition and fee expenses that exceed the tuition and fee amounts payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Although NSLDS is still available for students, currently FSA is moving toward a consolidation of all websites to a “onestop shop” at studentaid.gov. Students will be able to get student aid information collected from NSLDS by logging into studentaid.gov using their FSA credentials. See FSA Partners for more information.

SNHU does not recommend, promote or endorse any lenders, nor do they have any preferred lender agreements. SNHU does provide a historical list of private loans that SNHU students have used in the last three completed financial aid years.

Alternative loans are private education loans through a private lender to help finance the unmet cost of attendance at SNHU. Private lenders are required to provide disclosures through the application and approval process. A self-certification form is required during the application disclosure that will review and record your cost of attendance and estimated financial assistance for your period of enrollment to be covered by the private loan.

Students who drop and/or officially withdraw from coursework at SNHU may be eligible to receive a refund of tuition and other institutional charges. Where required SNHU also adheres to specific state refund policies.

Return of Title IV funds requirements apply to a federal grant or loan recipient who officially or unofficially withdraws from Southern New Hampshire University before completing the payment period.

Return of Military Tuition Assistance applies to all TA recipients who officially or unofficially withdraw from Southern New Hampshire University before completing a term.

Your financial aid award letter will list all of the financial aid offered to you, which may consist of a combination of federal grants, federal work-study, federal loans, and if you're an on campus traditional student, institutional scholarships and grants. Review the financial aid award terms and conditions to ensure you fully understand your rights and responsibilities as a recipient of financial aid at SNHU.

To be eligible and continue to receive Federal Student Aid (FSA) on an annual basis, students must make satisfactory academic progress toward achieving and completing their program of study through measurement of qualitative (grade-based) and quantitative (time-based) standards.

SNHU has an established Tier 1 arrangement with BankMobile for the delivery of Title IV student refunds and this contract disclosure provides the refunds agreement, and amendments.

Health and Safety

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act requires that institutions which participate in Federal student aid programs provide information to the public regarding campus safety and security, as well as fire safety, policies, procedures and statistics. This SNHU Annual Security Report includes Information for victims of sexual violence, discrimination and harassment, information for crime victims about disciplinary hearings, Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures, Timely Warnings, Crime Log, Fire Safety Policies, Fire Statistics, and Fire Logs. SNHU will provide a paper copy upon request.

The mission of the SNHU Public Safety office is to continually enhance public safety and the quality of life for those living, working and visiting our academic community.

SNHU is committed to maintaining an environment of teaching and learning that is free from illicit drugs and alcohol.

SNHU is committed to the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campuses. To support that commitment we formed a crisis management team which worked with University officials to develop a crisis management plan. The plan has been reviewed and approved by officials at the State of New Hampshire Division of Public Safety.

The vaccination policy applies to all residential students, all full time undergraduate students, all international students and all full time graduate day students taking classes on the Manchester NH campus.

Student Outcomes

The 3-year cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year. The U.S. Department of Education releases official cohort default rates once per year. The three most recent three-year official cohort default rates for SNHU may be viewed on the Cohort Default Rates tab of the College Navigator.

• Financial Aid & Debt on College Scorecard

  Students and families may review the Financial Aid and Debt tab on the College Scorecard, an online tool created by the U.S Department of Education, for the following federal student loan information for SNHU borrowers:

  • Repayment Rate - The three year repayment rate percentage for SNHU borrowers compared to the national average.
  • Students Receiving Federal Loans - The share of SNHU undergraduate students who borrowed federal loans to help pay for college. Excludes Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans.
  • Monthly Student Loan Payment - The median monthly loan payment for SNHU students who completed, if the federal loans were repaid over ten years at a defined interest rate.
  • Typical Total Debt - The median federal debt of SNHU undergraduate borrowers who completed. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans and private student loans.

SNHU reports disaggregated graduation rates by gender, major racial and ethnic subgroup, recipients of a Federal Pell Grant, recipients of a Subsidized Direct Loan who did not receive a Federal Pell Grant, and by students who did not receive either a Federal Pell Grant or a Subsidized Direct Loan. SNHU does not measure and report transfer out rates.

• Graduate and Professional Education

SNHU does not collect graduate and professional education data. NHES collects New Hampshire, county specific data related to Graduate and Professional Degree educational attainment. In addition, The NH Department of Education maintains educational research data as well as the most current IPEDS data.

SNHU does not calculate placement rates in employment for any academic program unless required by programmatic accreditors.

Retention Rates provided by College Navigator measure the percentage of full-time, first-time and part-time, first-time students who are seeking bachelor's degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall, as reported to IPEDS.

Athletics

All schools participating in Title IV, HEA Student Financial Aid programs that enroll students who are offered athletically related student aid are required to produce a report by July 1 each year for disaggregated graduation rates for athletes by gender, major racial and ethnic subgroup, recipients of a Federal Pell Grant, recipients of a Subsidized Direct Loan who did not receive a Federal Pell Grant, and by students who did not receive either a Federal Pell Grant or a Subsidized Direct Loan. SNHU does not measure and report transfer out rates for athletes.

This annual report is a requirement of the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) which requires a school that has an intercollegiate athletic program to make prospective students aware of its commitment to providing equitable athletic opportunities for its male and female students. The direct link is https://ope.ed.gov/athletics/#/institution/details. SNHU will provide a paper copy upon request.

Other Information

SNHU is required to provide an educational program annually, on September 17th, to commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

SNHU provides a New Hampshire Voter Registration Guide for our Manchester NH campus students.

GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

This website will provide you with answers to many common visit-related questions and needs. From campus activities and sights to see, to our time zone and directions to campus, this is the central hub for all visitor related information. Thanks for stopping by, look around for a while.