Electromagnetic pollution – in the MINDS? Psychosocial factors behind the non-specific symptoms attributed to (supposed) electromagnetic field exposure

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Electromagnetic pollution – in the MINDS? Psychosocial factors behind the non-specific symptoms attributed to (supposed) electromagnetic field exposure Renáta Szemerszky1*, Ferenc Köteles2 and György Bárdos1, 3 1 Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungary 2 Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Personality and Health, Hungary 3 Eötvös Loránd University, Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, Hungary ‘Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields’ (IEI-EMF), which refers to perception of non-specific symptoms during EMF exposure, has become recently disproved to be a mostly biologic entity, and more and more evidences have accumulated to support the role of nocebo effect in the phenomenon. The aim of this study was to explore some psychosocial factors which may predispose to IEI-EMF. In a questionnaire survey, 185 undergraduate participants were asked to select those items of 15 non-favourable and 7 favourable symptoms evoked by EMFs which they believed they had experienced earlier. In addition, they completed psychological scales (trait anxiety-STAI-T, somatisation-PHQ-15, satisfaction with life-SWLS), and had also to estimate the degree of their computer and mobile phone exposure. Far more participants judged the effects of the EMFs unfavourable than favourable, especially referring to central nervous system symptoms. Number of the complaints was predicted by the frequency of computer use and by somatisation tendency. In an experimental setting, 40 volunteer university students completed psychological questionnaires (expectations; IEI-EMF; state anxiety-STAI-S; dispositional optimism-LOT-R; PHQ-15; somatosensory amplification-SSAS) before, and symptom checklists during sham-exposure to “weak” and “strong” EMFs, respectively. Experienced symptom scores were predicted primarily by somatisation scores, whereas self-rating of IEI-EMF was predicted by SSAS scores. Supposed ‘strong’ EMF exposure resulted in larger symptom scores as compared to ‘weak’ exposure. Results confirm the significant role of psychosocial factors in IEI-EMF. It seems that information given about the potential damages caused by EMFs that is originally aimed to protect the public and to strengthen awareness, may also elicit negative expectations that – if predisposing personality factors are present – may lead to non-specific health problems. Supported by OTKA K 76880. Conference: IBRO International Workshop 2010, Pécs, Hungary, 21 Jan - 23 Jan, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Disorders of the nervous system Citation: Szemerszky R, Köteles F and Bárdos G (2010). Electromagnetic pollution – in the MINDS? Psychosocial factors behind the non-specific symptoms attributed to (supposed) electromagnetic field exposure. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: IBRO International Workshop 2010. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.10.00066 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 21 Apr 2010; Published Online: 21 Apr 2010. * Correspondence: Renáta Szemerszky, Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Budapest, Hungary, rszemerszky@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Renáta Szemerszky Ferenc Köteles György Bárdos Google Renáta Szemerszky Ferenc Köteles György Bárdos Google Scholar Renáta Szemerszky Ferenc Köteles György Bárdos PubMed Renáta Szemerszky Ferenc Köteles György Bárdos Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.