Modern Health Worries Research Articles

Modern Health Worries, Somatosensory Amplification and Subjective Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study

Modern health worries (MHWs; i.e., concerns about possibly harmful features of modern life) have been associated with somatic symptoms and somatosensory amplification in previous cross-sectional studies. Causal relationship among these variables is yet to be discovered. The study investigates the temporal association among subjective symptoms, somatosensory amplification (SSA), and modern health worries (MHWs). Baseline and follow-up questionnaires (somatic symptoms--PHQ-15, somatosensory amplification scale--SSAS, modern health worries scale--MHW, PANAS negative affect scale-NA) were completed by 366 undergraduate students in a 2-month longitudinal study. MHWs were predicted by baseline MHWs (β = 0.721, p < 0.001) and by somatic symptoms (β = 0.084, p < 0.05). Somatic symptoms were predicted by baseline symptoms (β = 0.610, p < 0.001), NA (β = 0.104, p < 0.05), and SSAS scores (β = 0.089, p < 0.05). The only predictor of SSA was baseline SSAS score (β = 0.628, p < 0.001). Based on the results, a linear model (proneness to somatosensory amplification leads to subjective symptoms which lead to MHWs) was proposed, where MHWs serve as explanations of physical symptoms or as possible environmental threats to avoid.

Are modern health worries associated with somatosensory amplification, environmental attribution style, and commitment to complementary and alternative medicine?

Relationship among modern health worries (MHWs), somatosensory amplification (SSA), and attributional styles was investigated in a cross-sectional questionnaire study. A total of 99 university students, 104 patients visiting their General Practitioners, and 102 future alternative therapists completed questionnaires assessing MHWs, SSA, negative affect (NA), and psychological, somatic and normalizing (environmental) attribution styles. Significant correlation between SSA and MHWs was found in all three samples. MHWs and psychological attribution style were significantly associated with Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)-orientation in the regression equation even after controlling for SSA, NA, and sociodemographic variables. MHWs were independent from any attribution styles in the student and patient samples, while significant correlations with all three styles were found in the CAM group. Previously described association between MHWs and SSA was replicated in three different samples. The connection between MHWs and CAM preference seems to be independent from SSA, NA or any particular attribution style.

What are the psychological correlates of perceived adverse food reactions?

Results The prevalence of PAFR was found to be 28.4%. Female and physiotherapy students were found to be more likely to report food reactions than male or medical students. Those participants who had a PAFR demonstrated higher levels of bulimic symptomatology (p< 0.0001) and higher levels of subjective stress than controls (p<0.05). Levels of modern health worries did not differ significantly in participants with and without a PAFR. Conclusion This study has made progress in validating a questionnaire to measure adverse food reactions. This instrument may be of benefit to future researchers and clinicians alike. This study suggests that PAFR’ sa re related to bulimic patterns of disordered eating and perceived stress levels. In light of this finding, healthcare professionals such as dieticians may find benefit in screening for bulimia nervosa in individuals presenting with a PAFR: particularly young, stressed females who may use adverse food reactions to justify maladaptive eating.

Modern Health Worries, Health Care Utilization, and Symptom Reporting: A Cross-cultural Comparison

Perception of risk to personal health from features of modern life and technology is increasing across the globe. We investigated whether these concerns exist in the Turkish setting in the same degree and whether symptom reports mediate the relationship between modern health worries (MHWs) and health care utilization in the UK and Turkish settings. A total of 506 University of St Andrews students and a total of 424 Turkish university students in Istanbul Bilgi University participated in the study. The factor structure of the MHW scale was similar in both samples and previous literature with the addition of a new factor, “ingested toxins.” Turkish sample had higher scores on all items compared to the UK sample. We also tested a moderated mediational hypothesis in both samples which showed that subjective health complaints mediated the relationship between MHWs and health care utilization in both samples.

Studies on the origin of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields.

Event Abstract Back to Event Studies on the origin of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields. O. Drozdovszky1, R. Szemerszky2, F. Köteles2 and G. Bárdos1, 2* 1 Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungary 2 Eötvös Loránd University, Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciencies, Hungary Although the adverse effects of the non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have not been proven, there are frequent complaints about non-specific symptoms (e.g. headache, dizziness, sleeping disturbances, etc.) attributed to EMF exposure. Our aim was to study the influence of psychological factors (e.g. negative expectancies, worrying about EMF) as well as direct biological effects of EMF exposure on the complaints. In animal experiments, male and female Wistar rat embrios or pups, respectively, had been exposed to an EMF of 50 Hz, 0.5 mT for 168 hours and were examined later in 3 different behavioral tests (locomotor activity, Elevated Plus Maze, Social Avoidance). In another, human study, 72 volunteers filled up symptom expectancy and modern health worries /MHW/ questionnaires, then put one hand between two active electromagnetic coils and were asked to mark experienced items from a list of 19 somatic symptoms. Although some minor effects following EMF exposure in the animal experiments have been found, the changes were small and inconsistent. In other words, we could not reproduce the human symptoms in animal models thus their biological origin has still remained questionable. In the human study, those participants experienced more symptoms during the exposure who had shown more symptom expectancies (r=0,54; p<0,000) and increased worries (r=0,25; p=0,035), proving that psychological factors may really affect and enchace EMF-induced symptom perception. Keywords: Behaviour and cognition, Neuroscience Conference: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT), Budapest, Hungary, 20 Jan - 22 Jan, 2011. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Behaviour and cognition Citation: Drozdovszky O, Szemerszky R, Köteles F and Bárdos G (2011). Studies on the origin of non-specific symptoms attributed to exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields.. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2011.84.00110 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: 03 Mar 2011; Published Online: 23 Mar 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. G. Bárdos, Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Budapest, Hungary, bardosgy@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 O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos Google O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos Google Scholar O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. Bárdos PubMed O. Drozdovszky R. Szemerszky F. Köteles G. 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.

Somatosensory amplification as a possible source of subjective symptoms behind modern health worries

The theoretically hypothesized connection between modern health worries (MHWs) and somatosensory amplification (SSA), as well as the factor structure of the Hungarian version of the MHW scale were investigated in a cross-sectional questionnaire study. A total of 163 university students (mean age = 21.3± 2.70 yrs; 44.2% male) and 145 patients (mean age = 49.4±17.51 yrs; 31.7% male) visiting their general practitioners (GPs) completed questionnaires assessing MHWs, SSA, subjective somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), and trait anxiety (STAI-T). The previously described four-factor structure of the MHW scale was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In the linear regression analysis, participants' age and SSA scores were positively related to MHWs even after controlling for gender, anxiety, and subjective somatic symptom scores. The conclusions are that: MHWs are indicators of cognitive, behavioral and social level of sensitization for health-related concerns; SSA can provide the somatic background process for generation and/or misattribution of subjective somatic symptoms; better understanding of the cognitive-emotional background of MHWs could help to determine possible interventions.

Are modern health worries, environmental concerns, or paranormal beliefs associated with perceptions of the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine?

To investigate to what extent paranormal beliefs, modern health worries (MHWs), and environmental concerns were related to beliefs about, and behaviour associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Of the participants, 150 completed a four-part questionnaire measuring use and perception of CAM, MHWs, paranormal beliefs, and environmental concerns. A factor analysis on the CAM questions revealed three clear components, labelled efficacy of CAM, attitudes to CAM, and safety of CAM. Age, total MHWs, paranormal beliefs, and environmental concerns were used as predictor variables in regression analyses with efficacy as criterion variable. Age was found to be a significantly related to efficacy of CAM. When total MHW score, paranormal belief score, and environmental concern score were added to the model, the r(2) increased by 29%. Environmental concern did not significantly relate to efficacy but spiritualism beliefs did. A factor analysis of the MHW scale items revealed nine factors. Out of these, radiation, doctors playing God, disasters, and epidemics, as well as harmful rays and air contaminants significantly predict belief in the efficacy of CAM. Overall, older people, with more MHWs, and who believe in the paranormal are more likely to believe that CAM works, possibly because of a more intuitive, 'holistic', thinking style. Limitations of the study are considered.

The mediating role of subjective health complaints on willingness to use selected functional foods

There is an increasing demand for functional foods in the market because such foods can either enhance physiological function or reduce disease risks. The present study draws on a research to develop a model that is believed to shed light on the extent to which modern health worries (MHWs), negative affect (NA), and healthy lifestyles (HL) are relevant to consumers’ willingness to use functional foods in Taiwan through the mediator of consumers’ subjective health complaints (SHCs). As expected, the results indicated that consumers’ SHCs play a mediating role in the relationship between NA and attitudes toward functional foods and in the relationship between HL and attitudes toward functional foods. Moreover, though people’s MHWs do not lead directly to SHCs, they do have a direct impact on their attitudes toward functional foods, resulting in further influencing their willingness to use such foods. Some suggestions for the public, the government authorities, and the marketers of functional foods are also provided in this study.

Do Healthy People Worry? Modern Health Worries, Subjective Health Complaints, Perceived Health, and Health Care Utilization

Modern health worries (MHW) are concerns related to modern or technological features of daily life (e.g., air pollution, x-rays, food additives, etc.), and have been associated with subjective health complaints (SHC) and health care use. The MHW scale was expected to predict aspects of health status in healthy individuals (e.g., health care visits, health perceptions, and medication use). SHC was thought to mediate the relationship between MHW and health care use. Likewise, negative affect was considered to mediate the relationship between MHW and SHC. University students (n = 432) completed assessments for MHW, SHC, perceptions of health, medication use, and health care visits. MHW were positively related to the number of subjective health complaints with negative affect partially driving this relationship. MHW were negatively related to reports of present health and medication use. MHW were marginally related, whereas SHC were significantly associated with health care utilization. Concerns over modern technology appear to influence symptom reporting, perceptions of current health, medication use, and, to a degree, visits to health care providers even in young healthy samples.

Modern health worries and idiopathic environmental intolerance

Objective We conducted two studies to test whether modern health worries (MHWs) were associated with central features of a condition called idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI) and medical care utilization. Methods In Study 1, 474 Internet users completed an Internet-based questionnaire that assessed MHWs, IEI features, and medical care utilization. In Study 2, the diagnostic specificity of MHWs was investigated by comparing the level of MHWs of three diagnostic groups: 46 people with IEI, 38 people with somatoform disorder but without IEI, and 46 people with neither IEI nor somatoform disorder. Results The good psychometric properties of the MHW scale were confirmed. MHWs were related to various features of IEI, and people who met IEI case criteria showed consistently higher levels of MHWs compared with people without IEI. The link between MHWs and number of doctor visits was mediated by perceived IEI complaints. In Study 2, the MHW scale effectively discriminated the IEI group from the non-IEI groups. Conclusions These results suggest that MHWs may contribute to the development of IEI. However, only prospective longitudinal studies will enable us to determine the predictive importance of MHWs for later development of IEI.

Psychological factors associated with self-reported sensitivity to mobile phones

ObjectiveSome people report symptoms associated with mobile phone use. A minority also report “electrosensitivity,” experiencing symptoms following exposure to other electrical devices. Research suggests that electromagnetic fields do not trigger these symptoms. In this study, we examined the differences between these two “sensitive” groups and healthy controls. MethodsFifty-two people who reported sensitivity to mobile phones, 19 people who reported sensitivity to mobile phones and “electrosensitivity,” and 60 nonsensitive controls completed a questionnaire assessing the following: primary reason for using a mobile phone, psychological health, symptoms of depression, modern health worries (MHW), general health status, symptom severity, and the presence of other medically unexplained syndromes. ResultsPerceived sensitivity was associated with an increased likelihood of using a mobile phone predominantly for work (3% of controls, 13% of those sensitive to mobile phones, and 21% of those reporting “electrosensitivity”) and greater MHW concerning radiation [mean (S.D.) on a scale of 1–5: 2.0 (1.0), 2.7 (0.9), and 4.0 (0.8), respectively]. Participants who reported “electrosensitivity” also experienced greater depression, greater worries about tainted food and toxic interventions, worse general health on almost every measure, and a greater number of other medically unexplained syndromes compared to participants from the other two groups. No group differences were observed with regards to psychiatric caseness. ConclusionsThe data illustrate that patients reporting “electrosensitivity” experience substantially worse health than either healthy individuals or people who report sensitivity to mobile phones but who do not adopt the label “electrosensitivity.” Clinicians and researchers would be wise to pay greater attention to this subdivision.

Are modern health worries, personality and attitudes to science associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine?

To investigate whether personality traits, modern health worries (MHWs) and attitudes to science predict attitudes to, and beliefs about, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This study set out to test whether belief in, and use of CAM was significantly associated with high levels of MHWs, a high level of neuroticism and sceptical attitudes towards science. Two hundred and forty-three British adults completed a four part questionnaire that measured MHWs, the Big Five personality traits and beliefs about science and medicine and attitudes to CAM. There were many gender differences in MHWs (females expressed more), though results were similar to previous studies. Contrary to prediction, personality traits were not related to MHWs, CAM usage or beliefs about CAM. Regular and occasional users of CAM did have higher MHWs than those non or infrequent users. Those with high totalled MHWs also tended to believe in the importance of psychological factors in health and illness, as well as the potential harmful effects of modern medicine. Young males who had positive attitudes to science were least likely to be CAM users. Further, positive attitudes to science were associated with increased scepticism about CAM. Concern about health, belief about modern medicine and CAM are logically inter-related. Those who have high MHWs tend to be more sceptical about modern medicine and more convinced of the possible role of psychological factors in personal health and illness.

You eat what you are: Modern health worries and the acceptance of natural and synthetic additives in functional foods

There is an increasing array of functional foods available that are designed to confer health benefits. However, individuals' worries about new technology and modernity may influence the acceptance of these products. In this study, we investigated how modern health worries influence attitudes and decisions about functional foods. We asked participants (n=390) to rate pictures of products with either added vitamins or added scientific compounds. Each product shown purported to have one of three possible targeted effects: to reduce the likelihood of a disease, to reduce a risk factor associated with a disease, or to improve personal appearance. We found levels of modern health worries to be significantly associated with participants' reports of organic food consumption and presence of food allergies. Modern health worries were also significantly related to a preference for foods with natural as opposed to synthetic additives. Participants with higher levels of modern health worries had a greater acceptance of functional foods designed to reduce the likelihood of disease compared to participants with low modern health worries. Overall, the results suggested that modern health worries are an important psychological factor to consider with regards to attitudes toward functional foods.

Worries About Modernity Predict Symptom Complaints After Environmental Pesticide Spraying

Concerns about environmental and technological changes affecting health have been shown to be associated with symptom reports in cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate how worries about modernity affecting health, negative affectivity, and prior symptom complaints influence health complaints after environmental spraying in a prospective study. Two hundred ninety-two residents of West Auckland completed questionnaires measuring recent symptoms, negative affect, and concerns about the effects of modernity on health before aerial spraying of their neighborhood with Foray 48B. After spraying, 181 residents (62%) returned a follow-up questionnaire measuring symptoms, spray-avoidance behavior, and the perceived effect of the spray program on health. The number of symptoms reported after the spray was most closely related to the number of symptoms reported at baseline (beta = 0.40, p = .0001). Higher levels of modern health worries (beta = 0.23, p = .001) and baseline symptoms (beta = 0.17, p < .05) were associated with a higher number of symptoms being attributed to the spray program. Modern health worries also predicted avoidance behavior during the spraying times (beta = 0.32, p = .001) and the belief that the health of participants and the health of their children and pets was affected by the spray (all p < .01). Worries about aspects of modern life affecting health can strongly influence the attribution of symptoms and beliefs about health effects after environmental incidents.

Subjective Health Complaints and Modern Health Worries in Patients with Subjective Food Hypersensitivity

Perceived food hypersensitivity is much more common than food allergy as medically verified. Unexplained symptoms and wrong attribution are typical in subjective health complaints. We hypothesize that subjective health complaints and worries are abnormally prevalent among patients with subjective food hypersensitivity. Forty-six patients with subjective food hypersensitivity and two control groups, one formed by 50 health care workers and one by 70 sex- and age-matched volunteers from the general population, were included in our study. All filled in two questionnaires: Subjective Health Complaints Inventory and Modern Health Worries Scale. None of the patients had IgE-mediated food allergy. The patients scored significantly higher than the controls on sum scores for four domains of subjective health complaints, including gastrointestinal complaints (P < 0.001), musculoskeletal complaints (P < 0.01), "pseudoneurology" (P < 0.001), and allergy (P < 0.001). Sum scores on modern health worries did not differ significantly between groups. The results support our hypothesis of an association between subjective food hypersensitivity and subjective health complaints, corroborating the view that, in the absence of food allergy, the conditions are sharing pathogenetic mechanisms.

Modern health worries in medical students

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between modern health worries (MHW), subjective health complaints, and use of health care services in first-year Dutch medical students, and to compare MHW in Dutch and New Zealand cohorts. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-seven Dutch first-year medical students completed questionnaires assessing MHW, subjective health complaints, positive and negative affect (PA and NA, respectively), and use of health care services. Results Dutch medical students were most concerned about drug resistant bacteria and least concerned about vaccination programmes. Overall, female students were more concerned about modern health issues than were male students. Students' scores on the MHW scale were significantly associated with subjective health complaints. Subjective health complaints were also significantly related to the use of health care services. The factor structure of the MHW scale was replicated. Respondents reported significantly lower scores on all MHW items than did New Zealand students. Conclusions: Worries about modernity are reliably associated with subjective health complaints and use of health care services in Dutch medical students.

Thoroughly modern worries: The relationship of worries about modernity to reported symptoms, health and medical care utilization

Objective: There is now greater public concern about how features of modern life pose threats to personal health. In two studies, we investigated the relationship between individuals' worries about modernity affecting health to symptom reports, perceptions of health and health care utilization. Methods: In the first study, 526 University students completed a questionnaire measuring modern health worries (MHW), symptom reports and health perceptions. A second study utilized an existing national survey database of 7869 New Zealanders. Part of the survey examined people's concerns of modernity affecting their health in the past 12 months, as well as the use of conventional medical and alternative health care. Results: We found concerns about modernity affecting health were made up of four major components: environmental pollution, toxic interventions, tainted food and radiation. MHW were significantly associated with somatic complaints and ratings of the importance of health to the individual. We also found individuals with high levels of MHW had a higher rate of food intolerance and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In the second study, we found MHW to be associated with medical care utilization, particularly of alternative health practitioners. Conclusions: The results of these studies suggest concerns about modernity do cause changes in the way individuals interpret somatic information and may play a role in undermining perceptions of health. The area of MHW is worthy of study and may hold importance for understanding aspects of functional disorders.