Age-differentiated impacts of digital health literacy and anxiety syndrome on hypochondriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea: a cross-sectional study

Purpose This study aimed to determine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related digital health literacy and COVID-19 anxiety syndrome on hypochondriasis according to age groups among Korean adults. Methods The study included 242 participants, including 97 young adults, 72 middle-aged adults, and 73 older adults, with an even distribution of age groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0, employing descriptive statistics, the Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test, one-way analysis of variance, the Scheffe test, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results COVID-19 anxiety syndrome (β = 0.28, p = .009) was found to be a significant factor influencing hypochondriasis among young adults, but this model was found to have no statistically significant explanatory power; COVID-19 anxiety syndrome (β = 0.47, p < .001), and searching as a component of digital health literacy (β = −0.42, p = .018) were significant factors among middle-aged adults (29% explanatory power; F = 3.12, p = .001); and COVID-19 anxiety syndrome (β = 0.40, p < .001) and diagnosis of chronic disease (β = 0.32, p = .006) were significant factors among older adults (24% explanatory power; F = 2.58, p = .006). Conclusion Measures to reduce COVID-19 anxiety syndrome in adults of all ages are needed to manage COVID-19-provoked hypochondriasis. In particular, differentiated strategies to improve COVID-19-provoked hypochondriasis according to age groups need to be developed, taking into account searching as a component of digital health literacy among middle-aged adults and diagnosis of a chronic disease among older adults.