TROY student Olivia Polina Mills presents research on cyberchondria at APA

October 29, 2026 - 03:50

Olivia Polina Mills, a psychology student at Troy University, presented research examining why some people experience intense anxiety about having or developing a serious illness after consuming health information online. Working with Dr. Nettelhorst, Mills focused on cyberchondria, which is illness anxiety intensified by internet use.

The everyday example is easy to picture: scrolling through Facebook Reels or short videos and coming across a clip that lists symptoms of a serious condition. A person who was not worried before may start checking their own body for signs and searching for more information, which can quickly turn into a cycle of reassurance seeking and rising distress. Mills examined what drives this pattern and why online health searches sometimes calm people while other times make anxiety worse.

The research adds to a growing body of work on how digital environments shape mental health, particularly for young adults who spend significant time on social media. Mills presented the findings at the American Psychological Association conference, where students and researchers share current work in the field. The project also reflects Troy University's emphasis on undergraduate research, giving students the chance to design studies, analyze data, and present results to a wider audience. Mills said the experience helped her understand how psychological research can address problems people encounter in daily life.