Journal article

Publication year: 2008

Pages: 105-113

Journal: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

Volume number: 211

Issue number: 1-2

ISSN: 1438-4639

eISSN: 1618-131X

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.01.030

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
The aim of this article was to re-evaluate and possibly modify the standardized Environmental Worry Scale (EWS) by Hodapp et al. [1996. Evaluation eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung von Umweltbesorgnis. Z. Gesundheitspsychologic IV(1), 22-36] with regard to its content and structure. In order to do this, 161 participants were chosen as a reference group to take part in a survey. The data were analyzed and a factor analysis yielded two instead of one component of worry, namely "personal" and "general" environmental worry, leading to a new evaluation method. This revised evaluation method was then applied to patients (n = 227) with or without self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and thus used in the context of reported health complaints. The outlined results indicate that the assessment of worry as proposed by Hodapp et al. [1996. Evaluation eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung von Umweltbesorgnis. Z. Gesundheitspsychologie IV(1), 22-36] should be elaborated by the newly developed evaluation method with which a ratio determined by "personal" and "general" worry can be calculated. In addition to analyzing the absolute quantity of worry, the calculated ratio allows to draw conclusions on the structure of worry. It will be discussed to what extent the results present new insights into the role of worry among patients suffering from environmental diseases. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Rethage, T., Eis, D., Gieler, U., Nowak, D., Wiesmueller, G., Lacour, M., et al. (2008) Assessment of environmental worry in health-related settings: Re-evaluation and modification of an environmental worry scale, International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 211(1-2), pp. 105-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.01.030

APA Citation style: Rethage, T., Eis, D., Gieler, U., Nowak, D., Wiesmueller, G., Lacour, M., Hodapp, V., Stilianakis, N., Eikmann, T., & Herr, C. (2008). Assessment of environmental worry in health-related settings: Re-evaluation and modification of an environmental worry scale. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 211(1-2), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.01.030