The development and validation of a Chinese version of the Illness Attitude Scales: an investigation of university students.
BACKGROUND
The Illness Attitude Scales (IAS) are considered as one of the most suitable instruments to screen hypochondriasis.


OBJECTIVE
Whether it has cross-cultural validity in China remains to be determined.


METHODS
In Chinese university students (141 women and 141 men), we have administered the IAS, the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ), and the Plutchik-van Praag Depression Inventory (PVP).


RESULTS
For the first time in Chinese culture, we have identified a four-factor structure of the IAS: patho-thanatophobia, symptom effect, treatment seeking, and hypochondriacal belief. Women scored significantly higher on IAS patho-thanatophobia and treatment seeking, on ZKPQ neuroticism-anxiety and activity, and on PVP than men did. The neuroticism-anxiety was significantly correlated with patho-thanatophobia and symptom effect, and PVP was positively correlated with symptom effect in women. Neuroticism-anxiety was significantly correlated with patho-thanatophobia, and impulsive sensation seeking and activity were significantly correlated with symptom effect in men.


CONCLUSIONS
In Chinese students, we have found a stable four-factor IAS structure.
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry/School of Public Health, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
Danyan
D
Luo
Yinxi
Y
Zhang
Enyan
E
Yu
Yunfei
Y
Tan
Zhou
Z
Tong
You
Y
Zhou
Wanzhen
W
Chen
Hao
H
Chai
Wei
W
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006998:Hypochondriasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D000075384:Neuroticism; D010555:Personality Inventory; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult