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.