Negative online health behavioursCyberchondria has been defined by White and Horvitz [22] as: The unfounded escalation of concerns about common symptomatology, based on the review of search results and literature on the web. White and Horvitz [23] suggested that the information obtained from healthcare-related searches could affect peoples’ decisions about when to engage a physician for assistance with diagnosis or therapy, how to treat an acute illness or cope with a chronic condition, as well as their overall approach to maintaining their health or the health of someone in their care with regard to diet, exercise, and preventative, proactive health activities.

The Internet may also play a major role in the development and spread of beliefs, which are unsupported by scientific evidence [24]. Joinson [25] noted that the format of a childcare email list, which seemingly encouraged venting and the name calling of parents and children amidst the unconditional support of other caregivers, created an environment leading to the acceptance of practices that were not child-centered and were potentially damaging to children. Introduction Home Content Glossary Help Back Next