The affective response to health-related information and its relationship to health anxiety: An ambulatory approach

Jasper F, Hiller W, Berking M, Rommel T, Witthofft M (2015)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, other

Publication year: 2015

Journal

Cognition & Emotion Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press): STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles / Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press)

Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press): STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles / Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press)

Book Volume: 29

Pages Range: 714-722

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2014.930022

Abstract

Affective reactions to health-related information play a central role in health anxiety. Therefore, using ambulatory assessment, we analysed the time course of negative affect in a control group (CG, n = 60) which only rated their negative affect and an experimental group (EG, n = 97) which also rated the presence of somatic symptoms (e.g., back pain). By means of mixed regression models, we observed a decline of negative affect following the symptom self-ratings in the EG and a stable affect in the CG. The decline of negative affect was not moderated by the degree of health anxiety. Our findings might indicate that evaluating one's health status leads to a general reduction of negative affect in healthy individuals. The results of the study are in line with a bidirectional symptom perception model and underline the crucial role of affect regulation in the processing of health-related information.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias Berking Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Involved external institutions

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE) Universität Salzburg (Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg) AT Austria (AT) Universität Mannheim DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Jasper, F., Hiller, W., Berking, M., Rommel, T., & Witthofft, M. (2015). The affective response to health-related information and its relationship to health anxiety: An ambulatory approach. Cognition & Emotion, 29(4), 714-722. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2014.930022

MLA:

Jasper, Fabian, et al. "The affective response to health-related information and its relationship to health anxiety: An ambulatory approach." Cognition & Emotion 29.4 (2015): 714-722.

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