A taxometric analysis of health anxiety

• DOI: 10.1017/s0033291708003322
• Publication Date: 2008-05-19T11:34:51Z
• Authors: E. Ferguson
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Health Status; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Behavior; 05 social sciences; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Anxiety Disorders; Attitude to Health; Hypochondriasis

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