A taxometric analysis of health anxiety.
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.


METHODS
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.
Ferguson
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Risk Analysis, Social Processes and Health (RASPH) Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK. eamonn.ferguson@nottinghham.ac.uk
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires