Cyberchondria,　involving　the　excessive　and　compulsive　seeking　of　health　information,　has　garnered　escalating　attention　in　recent　years.　One　model　proposes　cyberchondria　as　an　addictive　behavior,　and　craving　is　considered　a　key　driver　of　addictive　behaviors.　However,　craving　has　yet　to　be　systematically　studied　in　the　context　of　cyberchondria.　Therefore,　this　study　aimed　to　conceptualize　a　contruct　of　health　information　craving,　develop,　and　validate　a　health　information　craving　scale,　intended　for　subsequent　empirical　examinations　in　the　context　of　cyberchondria.　We　employed　a　rigorous　multi-step　procedure　for　scale　development　and　validation,　conducting　three　separate　studies　with　1633　participants.　The　resulting　scale　of　health　information　craving　exhibited　a　multi-dimensional　structure　with　positive　and　negative　reinforcing　sub-scales,　as　confirmed　through　diverse　reliability　and　validity　assessments.　As　expected,　the　scale　demonstrated　a　positive　relationship　with　individuals＇　cyberchondria,　thus　providing　support　for　the　nomological　validity　of　the　developed　scale.　Furthermore,　the　findings　suggest　that　health　information　craving　should　be　considered　a　related　but　distinct　concept　from　another　similar　concept,　health　information　need,　thereby　offering　further　support　for　its　operationalization.　Theoretical　and　practical　implications　are　discussed.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd