ABSTRACT
According to the cognitive behavior theory and meta-cognitive theory of health anxiety, to examine the association between alexithymia, cognition factors or meta-cognition factors and health anxiety. Methods: A total of 1 164 medical students were investigated by the Short Health Anxiety Inventory, the Health Cognitions Questionnaire, the Meta-cognitions about Health Questionnaire and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results: 1) Correlation analysis showed that alexithymia, dysfunctional beliefs, meta-cognition were significantly positively correlated with health anxiety (r=0.227-0.477, all P<0.01); 2) The results of structural equation model indicated that alexithymia could not exert effects on health anxiety directly (β=-0.05, 95% CI -0.123 to 0.021). The alexithymia could exert effects on health anxiety indirectly not only through dysfunctional beliefs (β=0.192, 95% CI 0.156 to 0.235), but also through the chain-mediated effect of dysfunctional beliefs and meta-cognitions (β=0.103, 95% CI 0.077 to 0.135). Dysfunctional beliefs fully mediated the relation between alexithymia and health anxiety (β=0.247, 95% CI 0.196 to 0.290). Conclusion: Alexithymia can affect health anxiety through the mediating effects of dysfunctional beliefs and meta-cognition.
Subject(s)
Humans , Affective Symptoms , Anxiety , Culture , Metacognition , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Objective To explore the relationship of disease conviction and metacognition with health anxiety in medical students.Methods A total of 914 medical students were assessed by the Metacognitions about health anxiety questionnaire(MAQ-HA),short health anxiety inventory(SHAI) and the cognitions about body and health questionnaire(CABAH).Results (①24.07％ of medical students were reported to have health anxiety.There were no significant differences between female medical students" health anxiety (11.6±4.8) and male medical students" health anxiety (11.1 ± 5.2).There were significant differences in health anxiety among medical students of different grades.②The catastrophizing interpretation of bodily complaints,autonomic sensations,bodily weakness,intolerance of bodily complaints and metacognition were significantly positive correlated with the health anxiety(r=0.253-0.474,P＜0.01),and the health habits of disease conviction were significantly negative correlated with the health anxiety.In addition to health habits(r=-0.131,P＜ 0.01).Disease convictions (The catastrophizing interpretation of bodily complaints,autonomic sensations,bodily weakness,intolerance of bodily complaints) were significantly positive correlated with the metacognition(r=0.212-0.296,P＜0.01).③Structural equation model analysis showed that disease conviction had a positive influence on metacognition(β=0.40).Metacognition had a positive influence on health anxiety (β =0.33),and an mediating effect made by metacognition counted 36.7％ of the total effect.Conclusion Disease conviction can directly affect health anxiety,and also indirectly influence it through metacognition.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the relationship of disease conviction and metacognition with health anxiety in medical students.Methods A total of 914 medical students were assessed by the Metacognitions about health anxiety questionnaire(MAQ-HA),short health anxiety inventory(SHAI) and the cognitions about body and health questionnaire(CABAH).Results (①24.07％ of medical students were reported to have health anxiety.There were no significant differences between female medical students" health anxiety (11.6±4.8) and male medical students" health anxiety (11.1 ± 5.2).There were significant differences in health anxiety among medical students of different grades.②The catastrophizing interpretation of bodily complaints,autonomic sensations,bodily weakness,intolerance of bodily complaints and metacognition were significantly positive correlated with the health anxiety(r=0.253-0.474,P＜0.01),and the health habits of disease conviction were significantly negative correlated with the health anxiety.In addition to health habits(r=-0.131,P＜ 0.01).Disease convictions (The catastrophizing interpretation of bodily complaints,autonomic sensations,bodily weakness,intolerance of bodily complaints) were significantly positive correlated with the metacognition(r=0.212-0.296,P＜0.01).③Structural equation model analysis showed that disease conviction had a positive influence on metacognition(β=0.40).Metacognition had a positive influence on health anxiety (β =0.33),and an mediating effect made by metacognition counted 36.7％ of the total effect.Conclusion Disease conviction can directly affect health anxiety,and also indirectly influence it through metacognition.