Cyberchondria and Stress in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment

NCT07126769 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-07/272
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 201
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examines how searching for health information on the internet may affect stress and emotional well-being in women undergoing infertility treatment. Infertility is a common condition that impacts about 48 million couples worldwide and can cause not only physical challenges but also significant emotional strain, including anxiety, depression, and stress. Many women turn to the internet to seek answers about their condition and treatment. While online information can be helpful, it is not always accurate or consistent, which can increase worry and confusion. This repeated and sometimes excessive searching for health information, known as "cyberchondria," has been linked in previous research to increased stress and anxiety. This study will assess women's online information-seeking patterns, infertility-related stress, and overall emotional and social well-being, aiming to better understand the role of cyberchondria in the infertility treatment process. The results may help healthcare professionals offer more targeted support and guidance to women facing these challenges.

Conditions

Cyberchondria; Stress; Infertility

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Introductory Information Form

  This form includes 24 questions divided into four sections covering women's sociodemographic details, health information, digital health search behaviors, and reproductive health.

  At baseline (one-time assessment at enrollment)

• Screening Tool on Distress in Fertility Treatment (SCREEN-IVF)

  A 28-item scale assessing psychosocial risk factors in individuals undergoing infertility treatment. It includes subscales for anxiety, social support, helplessness, acceptance, and depression. Scores above specific cutoff points indicate elevated risk levels in these areas.

  At baseline (one-time assessment at enrollment)

• Infertility Stress Scale

  Consists of 14 items across three subscales: Personal Stress (6 items), Marital Stress (4 items), and Social Stress (4 items). Higher scores reflect increased stress levels. Items are rated on Likert scales, with score ranges for each subscale indicating the severity of stress.

  At baseline (one-time assessment at enrollment)

• Short Form of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale

  A 12-item scale measuring severity of excessive online health searches, covering Excessiveness, Distress, Reassurance, and Compulsion subscales. Items scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher total scores indicate greater cyberchondria severity

  At baseline (one-time assessment at enrollment)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women aged 18 to 45 undergoing infertility treatment (IUI, IVF, ICSI), who speak Turkish, consent to participate, and have no psychological disorders.

You may qualify if:

• Women undergoing infertility treatment and those who have experienced various treatment methods (IUI, IVF, ICSI).
• Women willing to participate in the study.
• Women who understand and speak Turkish.

You may not qualify if:

• Women with psychological disorders (e.g., clinical depression, anxiety disorders).
• Women not undergoing infertility treatment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Acibadem University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Acıbadem University

Istanbul, Ataşehir, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (9)

• Boivin J, Takefman J, Braverman A. The fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) tool: development and general psychometric properties. Hum Reprod. 2011 Aug;26(8):2084-91. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der171. Epub 2011 Jun 10.

  PMID: 21665875 BACKGROUND

• Brochu F, Robins S, Miner SA, Grunberg PH, Chan P, Lo K, Holzer HEG, Mahutte N, Ouhilal S, Tulandi T, Zelkowitz P. Searching the Internet for Infertility Information: A Survey of Patient Needs and Preferences. J Med Internet Res. 2019 Dec 12;21(12):e15132. doi: 10.2196/15132.

  PMID: 31829963 BACKGROUND

• Buran, G., Toptaş Acar, B. The effect of social and emotional capacities on coping strategies and stress in infertile individuals. Curr Psychol 43, 29984-29994 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06504-5

  BACKGROUND

• Çakı, B., & Sohbet, R. (2021). The examination of reproductive information and stress levels of fertilite and infertile women. Adıyaman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 7(1), 103-112.

  BACKGROUND

• European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). (2021, August). Factsheet on infertility - prevalence, treatment and fertility decline in Europe.

  BACKGROUND

• Irmak Vural P, Korpe G, Aslan E. Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of Screening Tool on Distress in Fertility Treatment (SCREENIVF). Psychiatr Danub. 2021 Dec;33(Suppl 13):278-287.

  PMID: 35150496 BACKGROUND

• Mayette E, Scalise A, Li A, McGeorge N, James K, Mahalingaiah S. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) patient information-seeking behavior: a qualitative study. BMC Womens Health. 2024 Jun 15;24(1):346. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-03183-z.

  PMID: 38877503 BACKGROUND

• Verhaak CM, Lintsen AM, Evers AW, Braat DD. Who is at risk of emotional problems and how do you know? Screening of women going for IVF treatment. Hum Reprod. 2010 May;25(5):1234-40. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deq054. Epub 2010 Mar 13.

  PMID: 20228392 BACKGROUND

• Starcevic V, Schimmenti A, Billieux J, Berle D. Cyberchondria in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hum Behav Emerg Technol. 2021 Jan;3(1):53-62. doi: 10.1002/hbe2.233. Epub 2020 Nov 23.

  PMID: 33363277 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Infertility

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Genital Diseases; Urogenital Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Güzin Ünlü Suvari, Ph.D. (c)

CONTACT

+902165004429; guzinnunlu@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2025
• First Posted: August 17, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 30, 2026
• Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)