The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies on Cyberchondria and Mental Well-being of Emerging Adults

Authors

  • Aila Mae G. Lintag College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Andreana N. Santos College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Samy C. Sibal College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Elasir Anne C. Silverio College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Vincent Mari F. Garcia College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Ruth Krystine B. Garcia College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Kriza Angelique M. Santos College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Jerald Q. Vergara College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines
  • Arold A. Parungao College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Pampanga State University, Pampanga, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.639

Keywords:

Cyberchondria, Emerging adults, Emotion regulation strategies, Mental well-being

Abstract

In today’s fast-changing world, the internet has been one click away from an abundance of information. However, cyberchondria, or excessive online health-related searching, has become widely common among emerging adults, creating a significant gap in understanding its impact on mental well-being and the role of emotion in managing it. The study examined the relationships between cyberchondria, mental well-being, and emotion regulation strategies, and assessed the potential moderating roles of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression among emerging adults. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed with 340 respondents aged 18-24, selected through stratified disproportionate sampling. Standardized instruments, such as the Cyberchondria Severity Scale-Short Form, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression were analyzed using SPSS. While moderation analysis was performed using Jamovi software. Results revealed moderate levels of cyberchondria, mental well-being, and expressive suppression, with high levels of cognitive reappraisal. Cognitive reappraisal (r = 0.366, p < 0.001) was found to have a positive relationship with mental well-being. Meanwhile, cyberchondria (r = 0.075, p = 0.167) and expressive suppression (r = -0.018, p = 0.737) were observed to be inadequately related to mental well-being. Moderation analysis indicated that cognitive reappraisal (β = 0.013, p = 0.273) and expressive suppression (β = -0.007, p = 0.683) did not substantially moderate the association between cyberchondria and mental well-being. However, cognitive reappraisal directly enhanced mental well-being (β = 0.564, p < .001). These results suggest that while emotion regulation strategies may not buffer the impact of cyberchondria, promoting cognitive reappraisal could be beneficial for improving the mental well-being of emerging adults who frequently engage in online health searching, which may lead to health anxiety. The findings also emphasize the importance of implementing sustainable interventions that aim to strengthen adaptive emotion regulation, thereby fostering the mental well-being of individuals in today’s digital age.

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Published

2025-10-15

How to Cite

Lintag, A. M., Santos, A., Sibal, S., Silverio, E. A., Garcia, V. M., Garcia, R. K., … Parungao, A. (2025). The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies on Cyberchondria and Mental Well-being of Emerging Adults. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(11), 61–69. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.639

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 11 (2025): November 2025 Issue

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