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Published on: July 19, 2017
A taxometric analysis of health anxiety
1Risk Analysis, Social Processes and Health (RASPH) Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK. eamonn.ferguson@nottinghham.ac.uk
Background:
A long-standing issue in the health anxiety literature is the extent to which health anxiety is a dimensional or a categorical construct. This study explores this question directly using taxometric procedures.
Method:
Seven hundred and eleven working adults completed an index of health anxiety [the Whiteley Index (WI)] and indicated their current health status. Data from those who were currently healthy (n=501) and receiving no medical treatment were examined using three taxometric procedures: mean above minus below a cut (MAMBAC), maximum eigenvalue (MAXEIGEN) and L-mode factor analysis (L-MODE).
Results:
Graphical representations (comparing actual to simulated data) and fit indices indicate that health anxiety is more accurately represented as a dimensional rather than a categorical construct.
Conclusions:
Health anxiety is better represented as a dimensional construct. Implications for theory development and clinical practice are examined.
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