Heterogeneity of the jealousy phenomenon in the general population: an Italian study.
BACKGROUND
Despite the general agreement that normal jealousy is heterogenous, little is known about this specific topic.


METHODS
In the present study, we explored the possibility of distinguishing between four subtypes of "normal" jealousy (depressive, anxious, obsessive, and paranoid) amongst a cohort of 500 healthy university students by means of a specifically designed questionnaire, "Ouestionario della gelosia" (QUEGE). QUEGE is a self-report instrument of 30 items which explores the presence, frequency, and duration of feelings and behaviors related to jealousy. It was devised to investigate four hypothetical psychopathological profiles: depressive, paranoid, obsessive, and anxious.


RESULTS
The factor analysis identified five rather than four clear-cut factors: self-esteem, paranoia, interpersonal Sensitivity, fear of being abandoned, and obsessionality. Women showed statistically significant lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of obsessionality than men. Younger age (<25 years) was associated with lower self-esteem and higher levels of paranoia and obsessionality, while being single was associated with lower self-esteem and higher levels of obsessionality.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides evidence of the reliability and validity of the QUEGE instrument, which seems to identify the presence of five psychopathological dimensions within the jealousy phenomenon in the general population.
Marazziti
Donatella
D
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. dmarazzi@psico.med.unipi.it
Sbrana
Alfredo
A
Rucci
Paola
P
Cherici
Luca
L
Mungai
Francesco
F
Gonnelli
Chiara
C
Massimetti
Enrico
E
Raimondi
Francesca
F
Doria
Maria Rosaria
MR
Spagnolli
Sabrina
S
Ravani
Laura
L
Consoli
Giorgio
G
Catena Dell Osso
Mario
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007578:Jealousy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D044382:Population Groups; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult