ARTICLE
Cyberchondria and its measurement. The Polish adaptation and psychometric properties of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale CSS-PL
1
Zespół Psychologii i Ergonomii, Katedra Systemów Zarządzania, Politechnika Wrocławska
2
Zakład Humanistycznych Nauk Lekarskich, Uniwersytet Medyczny we Wrocławiu
Submission date: 2017-08-03
Final revision date: 2017-11-24
Acceptance date: 2018-01-04
Online publication date: 2019-02-28
Publication date: 2019-02-28
Corresponding author
Beata Bajcar
Zespół Psychologii i Ergonomii, Katedra Systemów Zarządzania, Politechnika Wrocławska, Smoluchowskiego 25, Wrocław, 50 - 372 Wrocław, Polska
Zespół Psychologii i Ergonomii, Katedra Systemów Zarządzania, Politechnika Wrocławska, Smoluchowskiego 25, Wrocław, 50 - 372 Wrocław, Polska
Psychiatr Pol 2019;53(1):49–60
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
The aim of this paper is a presentation of the adaptation process of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (SCC) to measure cyberchondria and verification of reliability and construct validities of the test in the Polish population.
Methods:
The study included 380 participants (203 women and 177 men) aged 19–68 (M = 26.5; SD = 11.1). The CSS-PL was used to measure cyberchondria, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) for measuring hypochondria, and the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) to verify obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
Results:
Four-factor structure of cyberchondria measured with the CSS-PL was supported. Internal consistency indices of the CSS-PL were between 0.87 and 0.95, test-retest reliability results were 0.58–0.76. This study demonstrated construct validity of the CSS-PL via its correlations with health anxiety (r = 0.31–0.56) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (r = 0.17–0.48).
Conclusions:
The CSS-PL is an initial standardized version of an instrument for measuring cyberchondria and meets the psychometric criteria of reliability and validity for psychological testing tools. The CSS-PL may be used both in diagnostic and scientific research.
The aim of this paper is a presentation of the adaptation process of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (SCC) to measure cyberchondria and verification of reliability and construct validities of the test in the Polish population.
Methods:
The study included 380 participants (203 women and 177 men) aged 19–68 (M = 26.5; SD = 11.1). The CSS-PL was used to measure cyberchondria, the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI) for measuring hypochondria, and the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS) to verify obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
Results:
Four-factor structure of cyberchondria measured with the CSS-PL was supported. Internal consistency indices of the CSS-PL were between 0.87 and 0.95, test-retest reliability results were 0.58–0.76. This study demonstrated construct validity of the CSS-PL via its correlations with health anxiety (r = 0.31–0.56) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (r = 0.17–0.48).
Conclusions:
The CSS-PL is an initial standardized version of an instrument for measuring cyberchondria and meets the psychometric criteria of reliability and validity for psychological testing tools. The CSS-PL may be used both in diagnostic and scientific research.
Project no. RCN/SN/0610/2021/1 implemented from 2022 to 2024
Total value of the project: PLN 490 000
Amount funded by the MEiN: PLN 100 000
Aims of the project: Publication in Open Access mode on the Internet of English and Polish language versions of 12 consecutive issues of the journal Psychiatria Polska (years 2022-2024). Modernization and redesign of the journal’s website. Financing of the Editorial System. Copy editing and proofreading of journal issues. Counteracting scientific misinformation. Submission of electronic versions of the journal to the National Digital Library Polona and the Digital Library of Scientific Publications Academica.
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