@article{Kocjan_2017, title={Is hypochondriasis a significant problem among polish adolescents? An attempt of assessment of severe form of health anxiety in polish population}, volume={7}, url={https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/4715}, abstractNote={<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%;" align="JUSTIFY"><a name="yui_3_14_1_1_1500019979339_662"></a><a name="yui_3_14_1_1_1500019979339_6622"></a> <span style="font-size: small;"><strong>[Background]</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;"> Hallmark features of health anxiety include persistent concern that one may have or contract an illness. People with health anxiety persist in looking for possible organic causes for their symptoms despite the negative results of medical examinations. It is estimated that 5 percent of the general population suffers hypochondria. However, still is little known about prelevance of hypochondriasis in polish population. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>[Aim of the study]</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;"> The aim of this study was to investigate health anxiety level among polish adolescents and to examine the self-reported experience of health anxiety in medical students compared with non-medical students. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>[Material and methods] </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">A total of 510 students aged 18–24 were anonymously examined. Health anxiety was measured using a polish language questionnaire known as the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>[Results]</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;"> Mean values of SHAI total score were as follows: overall sample: </span></span><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">15,7</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">; medical group: 1</span></span><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">9,2 </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">non-medical group:</span></span><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">10,5; II year students: 22,8; VI year students: 14,7. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;">Elevated health anxiety was reported by 26,7 percent of the sample, with reference to 18,8% of medical population and 8% of non-medical participants. Significant differences in health anxiety between medical and medical populatioan, as well as, between II year and VI year medical students were also found.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%;" align="JUSTIFY"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>[Conclusions]</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: medium;"> The study provides evidence about moderate intensification of health anxiety among polish adolescent. Health anxiety level was significantly higher among medical students versus non-medical students group.</span></span></p>}, number={8}, journal={Journal of Education, Health and Sport}, author={Kocjan, Janusz}, year={2017}, month={Aug.}, pages={209–217} }