On the origin of worries about modern health hazards: Experimental evidence for a conjoint influence of media reports and personality traits

Witthöft, Michael; Freitag, Ina; Nußbaum, Christiane; Bräscher, Anne Kathrin; Jasper, Fabian; Bailer, Josef; Rubin, G. James

doi:10.1080/08870446.2017.1357814

Cited by 27 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…It is important to note, however, that sample size may also play a considerable role in the interaction between the type of video viewed and symptom score, and a larger sample size would have increased the chance of identifying an effect of the video in the present study. In line with previous research, the present study also found that participants who viewed the alarmist video had a larger increase in state anxiety and risk perception from baseline relative to those who viewed the control video (Bräscher, Raymaekers, et al, 2017;Witthöft et al, 2017;Witthöft & Rubin, 2013). This provides further support to the notion that sensationalized media reports are capable of increasing people's concerns and worries about exposure to EMF.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Although a number of studies have shown that explicit suggestions about the adverse effects of EMF exposure can increase concern and negatively influence people's beliefs about EMF exposure (Barnett et al, 2007;Köteles et al, 2016;Nielsen et al, 2010;Wiedemann et al, 2014;Wiedemann et al, 2013;Wiedemann & Schütz, 2005;Wiedemann et al, 2006;Witthöft et al, 2017) (factors which are considered to be key in contributing to a nocebo response (Webster et al, 2016)), it has remained relatively unclear whether the negative randomized, counterbalanced trials were conducted. By demonstrating that the experiment contained a 'no exposure' condition, the present study was able to more clearly determine whether any observed increases in symptoms were the result of a nocebo effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, viewing mainstream media reports which either promote the view that EMF exposure is hazardous, or focus on individuals with IEI-EMF, have been shown to increase worries about EMF exposure (Witthöft et al, 2017), while viewing an advertisement claiming to protect against the 'harmful effects of everyday EMF exposure' has been shown to increase both heart rate and concern about EMF (Köteles, Tarján, & Berkes, 2016).…”

Section: The Communication Of Information About Potential Adverse Heamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can explicit suggestions about the harmfulness of EMF exposure exacerbate a nocebo response in healthy controls?

Verrender

Loughran

Dalecki

et al. 2018

Environmental Research

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While there has been consistent evidence that symptoms reported by individuals who suffer from Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to Electromagnetic Fields (IEI-EMF) are not caused by EMF and are more closely associated with a nocebo effect, whether this response is specific to IEI-EMF sufferers and what triggers it, remains unclear. The present experiment tested whether perceived EMF exposure could elicit symptoms in healthy participants, and whether viewing an 'alarmist' video could exacerbate a nocebo response. Participants were randomly assigned to watch either an alarmist (N = 22) or control video (N = 22) before completing a series of sham and active radiofrequency (RF) EMF exposure provocation trials (2 open-label, followed by 12 randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced trials). Pre- and post-video state anxiety and risk perception, as well as belief of exposure and symptom ratings during the open-label and double-blind provocation trials, were assessed. Symptoms were higher in the open-label RF-ON than RF-OFF trial (p < .001). No difference in either symptoms (p = .183) or belief of exposure (p = .144) was observed in the double-blind trials. Participants who viewed the alarmist video had a significant increase in symptoms (p = .041), state anxiety (p < .01) and risk perception (p < .001) relative to the control group. These results reveal the crucial role of awareness and belief in the presentation of symptoms during perceived exposure to EMF, showing that healthy participants exhibit a nocebo response, and that alarmist media reports emphasizing adverse effects of EMF also contribute to a nocebo response.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Communication Of Information About Potential Adverse Heamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Can explicit suggestions about the harmfulness of EMF exposure exacerbate a nocebo response in healthy controls?

Verrender

Loughran

Dalecki

et al. 2018

Environmental Research

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“…The weak to medium level associations between the four constructs also support this view. Moreover, no association between MHWs and negative affect was found in healthy participants in several studies 9,24 , thus the finding that MHWs are increased in individuals with high level of negative affect represent an important contribution to the literature. Of course, the above mentioned cognitive distortions might directly contribute to the worrying tendency and increase MHWs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Modern Health Worries in Patients with Affective Disorders. A Pilot Study

et al. 2019

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Célkitûzés-A modernkori egészségféltés a negatív affektivitás indikátoraihoz, összeesküvés-elméletekhez és paranormális hiedelmekhez is kapcsolódik egészséges személyekben. Kérdésfeltevés-A pilot vizsgálat célja a modernkori egészségféltés és a negatív affektivitás indikátorainak felmérése volt pszichiátriai betegek körében. Emellett a modernkori egészségféltés és a paranoid és szkizofrén tendenciák kapcsolatának felderítése is célunk volt. A vizsgálat módszere-Keresztmetszeti kérdôíves vizsgálat. A vizsgálat alanyai-Szorongásos és/vagy hangulatzavarral diagnosztizált betegek (n = 66). Eredmény-A pszichiátriai betegek a szomatikus betegeknél magasabb fokú modernkori egészségféltéssel, szomatoszenzoros amplifikációs tendenciával és egészségszorongással jellemezhetôk. A modernkori egészségféltés közepes erôsségû kapcsolatot mutatott a paranoid (r = 0,35, p < 0,01) és a szkizofrén (r = 0,37, p < 0,01) tendenciákkal. A többszörös lineáris regressziós elemzésben a szomatoszenzoros amplifikáció (β = 0,452, p < 0,001) és a paranoia (β = 0,281, p < 0.01) járult hozzá szignifikáns mértékben a modernkori egészségféltéshez (R 2 = 0,323, p < 0,001). Következtetés-A szorongásos és/vagy hangulatzavarral diagnosztizált betegekre fokozott mértékû egészségféltés, egészségszorongás és szomatoszenzoros amplifikáció jellemzô. A modernkori egészségféltéshez paranoid tendencia kapcsolódik.

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“…This finding can be explained by two approaches. First, stories about harmful effects of modern technologies are abundant in mass media and impact not only people's worrying tendency (Bräscher, Raymaekers, Van den Bergh, & Witthöft, 2017;Petrie et al, 2001;Witthöft et al, 2018), but also their automatic self-perception and self-categorization. Second, as in the case of complementary and alternative medicine (Astin, 1998), philosophical congruence might be a motive for those characterized by an experiential-intuitive thinking style to accept the IEI-EMF label, even in the absence of symptoms.…”

Section: Assessing Iei-emfmentioning

confidence: 99%

One Single Question Is not Sufficient to Identify Individuals With Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

Szemerszky

Dömötör

Köteles

2019

CPE

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Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance attributed to Electromagnetic Fields (IEI-EMF) is a self-reported condition where non-specific symptoms are attributed to weak non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. Despite its expanding prevalence, there is no generally accepted diagnostic procedure or definition to identify patients with this condition, thus studies usually apply only one question as inclusion criterion. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the heterogeneity of a self-reported IEI-EMF group and to identify further self-report questions that could be applied as inclusion criteria. Cross-sectional on-line survey study was carried out with 473 participants (76.3% women; age: 35.03 ± 13.24 yrs). Self-diagnosed IEI-EMF (as assessed with a yes-or-no question), frequency of EMF-related symptom and severity of the condition were assessed, as well as somatic symptom distress (Patient Health Questionnaire Somatic Symptom Severity Scale, PHQ-15). 72 (15.2%) individuals labelled themselves as IEI-EMF, however only 61% of them remained in the IEI-EMF group after the use of three inclusion criteria instead of one. 21% of the individuals labelling themselves as IEI-EMF reported neither symptoms nor any negative impact on their daily life. A minimum of two questions appear to be necessary as inclusion criteria for IEI-EMF in empirical research. Instead of the widely used yes-or-no question on accepting the IEI-EMF label, occurrence of symptoms attributed to EMF on a regular basis and at least a slight negative impact on daily life are required. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (IEI-EMF) is often assessed by one yes-or-no self-report question. This practice is inappropriate from a conceptual and methodological point of view. At least two questions, assessing frequency of symptoms and their impact, are needed. Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (IEI-EMF) is often assessed by one yes-or-no self-report question. This practice is inappropriate from a conceptual and methodological point of view. At least two questions, assessing frequency of symptoms and their impact, are needed.

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On the origin of worries about modern health hazards: Experimental evidence for a conjoint influence of media reports and personality traits

Abstract: The results of both studies reveal a significant and specific influence of sensational short mass media reports on MHW. The influence of potential moderators such as absorption remains to be clarified.

Cited by 27 publications

References 51 publications

Can explicit suggestions about the harmfulness of EMF exposure exacerbate a nocebo response in healthy controls?

Can explicit suggestions about the harmfulness of EMF exposure exacerbate a nocebo response in healthy controls?

Modern Health Worries in Patients with Affective Disorders. A Pilot Study

One Single Question Is not Sufficient to Identify Individuals With Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

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