The Relationship between Health Anxiety and Emotion Regulation with Rumors on Social Networks during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between health anxiety and emotion regulation with rumors on social networks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present study was descriptive and correlational, and its statistical population consisted of all individuals in quarantine in District 19 of Tehran in 2020. The statistical samples included 150 individuals who were selected using the convenience sampling method. The research tools included the Health Anxiety Inventory by Salkovskis and Warwick (2002), The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) by Garnefski and Kraaij (2006), and the internet rumor questionnaire by Kim and Viag (2010), and we collected data using correlation analysis and Multiple Regression. Results: The results indicated that health anxiety positively and significantly predicted rumors, and the positive focus and planning negatively and significantly predicted rumors (P<0.01). Conclusion: According to the results, psychologists are suggested to provide programs to help improve citizens' health and well-being in these critical circumstances to alleviate concerns that arise from them.