Modern health worries, somatosensory amplification and subjective symptoms: a longitudinal study : a longitudinal study.
BACKGROUND
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.


OBJECTIVE
The study investigates the temporal association among subjective symptoms, somatosensory amplification (SSA), and modern health worries (MHWs).


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Institute for Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Bogdánfy u. 10, 1117, Budapest, Hungary. fecuska@gmail.com
Ferenc
F
Köteles
Péter
P
Simor
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D055815:Young Adult