Menstrual tracking apps and cyberchondria in young women: a cross-sectional study of anxiety, menstrual impact, and dysmenorrhea.

AIM: This study examined the association between menstrual mobile application use and cyberchondria severity, menstrual impact, and dysmenorrhea among young women.

METHODS

This observational, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted between May 28 and December 28, 2025, with 200 women aged 18-25 years attending Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Data were collected using a Data Collection Form, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale, the Menstruation Impact Scale, the Functional and Emotional Measure of Dysmenorrhea, and the Menstrual Mobile Application Use Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Sociodemographic and menstrual characteristics were comparable between application users (n = 110) and non-users (n = 90) (p > 0.05). Application users had significantly higher Cyberchondria Severity Scale scores than non-users (t = 2.35, p = 0.02), while no significant between-group differences were found in menstruation impact or dysmenorrhea scores (p > 0.05). Among users, cyberchondria severity was weakly and positively correlated with menstrual application use attitudes (r = 0.229, p = 0.030). Duration of application use was significantly associated with cyberchondria severity (F = 3.40, p = 0.05) and menstruation impact scores (F = 3.31, p = 0.02). Women using applications for ≥ 24 months had lower cyberchondria and menstruation impact scores than short-term users and non-users.

CONCLUSION

Menstrual mobile application use was associated with higher cyberchondria severity, whereas longer duration of use was associated with lower cyberchondria and menstrual impact scores. Given the cross-sectional design, these differences should not be interpreted as within-person changes over time. Healthcare professionals should guide women toward reliable digital health tools and informed use.