Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire: Factor structure, psychometric properties and gender differences

Díaz, Amelia; Soriano, José; Beleña, Angela

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.05.036

Cited by 60 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…This combination of statements assumes an awareness of the diversity of bacteria, viruses, and parasites and their possible transmission, in any of the situations listed as items on the scale. Likewise, the relationship between the two PVDQ variables, perceived infectability and germ aversion, significant but low in the studies published [21,34], does not allow us to conclude that a high perceived infectability directly implies a high germ aversion. Mediational variables may affect this relationship in the same way that they could have an important role in the differences presented by men and women in the younger groups in both variables, perceived infectability and germ aversion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…The PVDQ used in this study [34] includes both statements on the resistance or weakness of our immune system, together with others on avoidance or non-avoidance behavior towards germ-risk situations, placing the person being assessed in a situation that goes beyond simple disgust, where the risk of contagion could be high. Sentences related to the participants' history of susceptibility to infectious diseases, and more specifically, being more likely to catch a cold, flu or other infectious diseases, are combined with sentences on avoiding people sneezing without covering their mouths or washing their hands after touching something that could be contaminated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Spanish validated version of the PVDQ [34] was completed-a 13-item self-report on a 7-point scale response (with endpoints labelled as "strongly disagree" and "strongly agree") that measures two factors: perceived infectability, assessed by 7 items (example: "In general, I am very susceptible to colds, flu and other infectious diseases"), and germ aversion, assessed by 6 items (example: "It really bothers me when people sneeze without covering their mouths"). The internal consistency (Cronbach´s alpha) of these subscales in this study was 0.79 for perceived infectability and 0.59 for germ aversion.…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Age and Gender in Perceived Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases

Díaz

Beleña

Zueco

2020

IJERPH

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Background: The study of the immune system has been approached using two separate paths, the biological immune system and the behavioral immune system. Recently, Gangestad and Grebe proposed a unique integrated compensatory immune system, where both systems work together and one of them could compensate for the other when necessary. However, few studies have confirmed the existence of this integrated compensatory immune system. Our study represents an attempt to explore the existence of this unique immune system, investigating if the behavioral immune system variables increase when the biological immune system weakens with age. Material and Methods. The cross-sectional design study was made up of a final sample of 1108 participants (45.2% men and 54.2 women) aged 18–64 years. The younger group (18–21 years) was made up of students, whilst the older groups (22 to 64 years) were composed by their relatives and acquaintances, following the snow ball process. The participants completed the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire that assesses perceived infectability and germ aversion. Correlations, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and independent group comparisons were performed. These analyses showed the relationships between the variables studied, the effects of age and gender in perceived infectability and germ aversion, and the differences that perceived infectability and germ aversion presented in different age-groups separated by gender. Results: A pattern emerged where germ aversion increases as both men and women get older, but perceived infectability decreases up to the age of 50, and then it increases in women from that age onward. Gender differences are only significant in younger participants, with women having higher scores than men in both variables. Conclusion: The results partially support the existence of a unique integrated compensatory biological/behavioral immune system.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Role of Age and Gender in Perceived Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases

Díaz

Beleña

Zueco

2020

IJERPH

Self Cite

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“…The basis of Westerners' aversion to insects may also be addressed by looking to potential effects of beliefs about one's own susceptibility to infectious diseases on insect-disgust and WTE insects. Perceived vulnerability to disease has been found to correlate with contamination fear (Diaz, Soriano, & Belena, 2016), as well as with behavioral immune system responses such as health anxiety (Duncan, Schaller & Park, 2009), anti-immigration attitudes and ethnocentrism (Faulkner, Schaller, Park & Duncan, 2004;Navarette & Fessler, 2006), and pathogen disgust sensitivity (Duncan et al, 2009;Fessler, Eng & Navarette, 2005;Tybur et al, 2009). Thus, potential associations between an individual's self-perceived infectability, and, then, insect eating disgust, and WTE insect-containing food may provide insight to the potential link between insect aversion and fear of contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

We will eat disgusting foods together – Evidence of the normative basis of Western entomophagy-disgust from an insect tasting

Jensen

Lieberoth²

2019

Food Quality and Preference

120

101

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This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

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“…trivial infections) could play an important role in their concepts of disease causation. The gender differences were examined in the study of Diaz, Soriano, and Belena (2016), but with the focus on germ aversion, which was higher at girls. Flood et al (2011) found a better understanding of influenza among older pupils.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Selected Variables on Lower Secondary School Students’ Concepts About Diseases

Fančovičová

Kubiatko

2019

JBSE

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Children's concept of biological phenomena differs from scientific thought in many aspects. The revelation of wrong concepts contributes to better education, especially when that information is described in a specific field of science. Not only children, but also adults often use anthropomorphic and theological explanations to express their ideas, which confirm their lack of understanding of biological phenomena. A great deal of research has proved retaining of children's misconceptions in the fields of zoology and botany. How accurate, however, are their ideas about organisms of a microscopic size? The aim of the research was to find out the influence of selected factors (perceived vulnerability, grade, gender and type of group) on concepts about diseases among lower secondary school students. The research sample consisted of 400 students of lower secondary education from Slovakia. Data were collected through Likert type questionnaires. The correlation was found between perceived vulnerability to diseases, age and concepts about diseases. The statistically significant difference in the results between boys and girls was not confirmed. The higher impact should be aimed at their importance for humans and nature for a better understanding of this concept.

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Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire: Factor structure, psychometric properties and gender differences

Cited by 60 publications

References 37 publications

The Role of Age and Gender in Perceived Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases

The Role of Age and Gender in Perceived Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases

We will eat disgusting foods together – Evidence of the normative basis of Western entomophagy-disgust from an insect tasting

The Influence of Selected Variables on Lower Secondary School Students’ Concepts About Diseases

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