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

BackgroundA 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.MethodSeven 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).ResultsGraphical 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.ConclusionsHealth anxiety is better represented as a dimensional construct. Implications for theory development and clinical practice are examined.