{
  "abstract": "Introduction Information anxiety (IA) describes the distress caused by the gap between the information individuals have and what they feel they should possess. In the current digital environment—marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity—IA has expanded beyond traditional academic and workplace contexts to become a pervasive concern across populations. Mapping the empirical evidence on IA is critical to understanding its prevalence, determinants, impacts and coping strategies.Methods and analysis This protocol outlines a scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We will systematically search EBSCOhost, Scopus and Web of Science for peer-reviewed empirical studies published from 1 January 2000 to the planned end date of 5 November 2025. Two reviewers will independently screen records, with a third resolving discrepancies. Data extraction will be conducted using a customised tool, and results will be synthesised narratively and visually, structured around bibliometric characteristics, the Population, Concept, Context framework and a Stimulus-Organism-Response model. Subgroup analyses will be conducted across populations, disciplines and regions.-ScREthics and dissemination As this study is based on secondary analysis of published data, ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Yuan Jiang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Normah Mustaffa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Jamaluddin Aziz"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia"
      ],
      "name": "Xiaochun Cai"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Information anxiety across populations in the VUCA era: a scoping review protocol",
  "uid": "0367df80-383b-5326-b80c-9eea94b962a3"
}