Zsuzsanna Dömötör1, Steven Nordin2, Michael Witthöft3, Ferenc Köteles4. 1. Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary. Electronic address: domotor.zsuzsanna@ppk.elte.hu. 2. Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Sweden. Electronic address: steven.nordin@umu.se. 3. Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: witthoef@uni-mainz.de. 4. Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary. Electronic address: koteles.ferenc@ppk.elte.hu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Modern health worries (MHWs) refer to people's concerns about possible harmful effects of modern technologies, and are widespread in the developed countries. The aim of the present work was to provide comprehensive, yet integrated understanding for MHWs and associated factors. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guideline, a systematic review was conducted based on 48 empirical articles published between 2001 and 2018 (Prospero registration number: CRD42018103756). All empirical studies were included that (1) were published between 2001 and 2018 in peer-reviewed scientific journals in English, German, or Hungarian, (2) used the Modern Health Worries Scale or any of its sub-scales, and (3) assessed associations between MHWs and other constructs and/or compared criterion groups (i.e. purely psychometric studies were excluded). RESULTS: The results from the review suggest that female gender, age, somatic symptom distress and idiopathic environmental intolerances, holistic thinking, and paranoid beliefs are positively associated with MHWs, whereas educational qualification and the five major dimensions of personality appear not to be. CONCLUSION: Scientific inquiry on the MHWs phenomenon is still in its descriptive-explorative phase; more rigorously designed studies are needed. The presented theoretical framework integrates illness-related and holistic thinking-related aspects of MHWs as a starting point to guide further research in this area.
OBJECTIVE: Modern health worries (MHWs) refer to people's concerns about possible harmful effects of modern technologies, and are widespread in the developed countries. The aim of the present work was to provide comprehensive, yet integrated understanding for MHWs and associated factors. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guideline, a systematic review was conducted based on 48 empirical articles published between 2001 and 2018 (Prospero registration number: CRD42018103756). All empirical studies were included that (1) were published between 2001 and 2018 in peer-reviewed scientific journals in English, German, or Hungarian, (2) used the Modern Health Worries Scale or any of its sub-scales, and (3) assessed associations between MHWs and other constructs and/or compared criterion groups (i.e. purely psychometric studies were excluded). RESULTS: The results from the review suggest that female gender, age, somatic symptom distress and idiopathic environmental intolerances, holistic thinking, and paranoid beliefs are positively associated with MHWs, whereas educational qualification and the five major dimensions of personality appear not to be. CONCLUSION: Scientific inquiry on the MHWs phenomenon is still in its descriptive-explorative phase; more rigorously designed studies are needed. The presented theoretical framework integrates illness-related and holistic thinking-related aspects of MHWs as a starting point to guide further research in this area.
Authors: Pia Nynäs; Sarkku Vilpas; Elina Kankare; Jussi Karjalainen; Lauri Lehtimäki; Jura Numminen; Antti Tikkakoski; Leenamaija Kleemola; Heini Huhtala; Jukka Uitti Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-11-23 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Courtney M Cooper; Jeff B Langman; Dilshani Sarathchandra; Chantal A Vella; Chloe B Wardropper Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-10-28 Impact factor: 3.390