Associations Between Hypochondriacal Symptoms and Illness Appraisals, and Their Moderation by Self-Focused Attention

Wagner, Sebastian A and Brown, Stephen L ORCID: 0000-0002-6142-0995 (2012) Associations Between Hypochondriacal Symptoms and Illness Appraisals, and Their Moderation by Self-Focused Attention JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 42 (1). pp. 195-212. ISSN 0021-9029, 1559-1816

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Abstract

Hypochondriacal symptoms are associated with cognitive biases in the ways that illness is appraised. Self-focused attention (SFA) may augment or reduce these biases. Using a healthy sample, this study examined relationships between hypochondriacal symptoms, assessed using the Illness Attitudes Scale; and illness appraisals, assessed using the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised. Participants were exposed to an SFA manipulation or a non-SFA control, were given a health message about influenza, and were asked to imagine having the disease. Hypochondriacal symptoms were linked to higher symptom perceptions, greater perceptions of personal and treatment control, and higher disease coherence. SFA augmented the relationship between hypochondriacal symptoms and personal control. Findings are discussed in terms of illness appraisal biases and attentional components of these biases. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Issue date: January 2012. First published online 11 January 2012. Cite as: WAGNER, S. A. and BROWN, S. L. (2012), Associations Between Hypochondriacal Symptoms and Illness Appraisals, and Their Moderation by Self-Focused Attention. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42: 195–212. doi: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00872.x .
Uncontrolled Keywords:	5203 Clinical and Health Psychology, 52 Psychology, Behavioral and Social Science, Brain Disorders, Clinical Research, Mental health
Subjects:	?? RC0321 ??
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences > School of Dentistry
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2012 14:19
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 04:29
DOI:	10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00872.x
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/1222
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