Unpacking the Heterogeneity of Cyberchondria: Latent Profile Analysis of Cyberchondria and the Buffering Role of Trait Mindfulness.

Cyberchondria, a multidimensional syndrome characterized by excessive online health information seeking accompanied by escalating anxiety and compulsive behaviors, has primarily been examined using variable-centered approaches; person-centered evidence of distinct cyberchondria profiles remains limited. Drawing on the differential susceptibility to media effects model and mindfulness-to-meaning theory, this study aimed to identify heterogeneous cyberchondria profiles and examine their associations with trait mindfulness and sociodemographic characteristics. Using an online adult sample from mainland China collected in May 2024 (N = 500), latent profile analysis was conducted, followed by multinomial logistic regression. Three profiles were identified. Adaptive searchers (29.2 percent) demonstrated balanced information seeking with low distress and compulsion. Concerned searchers (22.6 percent) showed moderate levels across dimensions, with early signs of problematic patterns, representing a transitional state between adaptive and dysfunctional behaviors. Dysfunctional searchers (48.2 percent) exhibited high levels across all dimensions, characterized by uncontrolled, compulsive searching patterns with significant emotional distress. Furthermore, higher trait mindfulness was associated with a greater likelihood of belonging to the adaptive searchers profile than to the problematic profiles. Rural household registration status was associated with increased odds of belonging to both problematic profiles, whereas gender and income showed limited associations with profile membership.