TY - JOUR
T1 - The Cohen–Hoberman inventory of physical symptoms
T2 - Factor structure, and preliminary tests of reliability and validity in the general population
AU - Allen, Sarah F.
AU - Wetherell, Mark A.
AU - Smith, Michael A.
PY - 2017/5/4
Y1 - 2017/5/4
N2 - Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Cohen–Hoberman inventory of physical symptoms (CHIPS). Construct and discriminant validity were examined by assessing associations between factors and subjective health complaints (SHC) inventory subscales in addition to measures of pain sensitivity, perceived stress and psychological distress. Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 535 healthy individuals from the general population (80.6% female, mean age = 29.80). Main outcome measures: Participants completed CHIPS, SHC, perceived stress scale, pain sensitivity questionnaire, and hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results: Principal components analysis demonstrated that CHIPS comprised 8 ‘symptoms’ factors as follows; ‘sympathetic/cardiac’ (7 items; α = .827), ‘muscular’ (6 items; α = .752), ‘metabolic’ (5 items; α = .736), ‘gastrointestinal’ (5 items; α = .714), ‘vasovagal’ (4 items; α = .743), ‘cold/flu’ (2 items; α = .837), ‘headache’ (2 items; α = .690) and ‘minor haemorrhagic’ (2 items; α = .309). Significant correlations were observed between factors and SHC subscales (moderate-high), pain sensitivity (negligible-low) and levels of perceived stress and anxiety (low-moderate) indicating good construct, and discriminant validity, respectively. Conclusions: CHIPS is a multidimensional and internally consistent measurement of physical symptoms. The postulated factor structure may be used for research purposes particularly in health psychology, to consistently differentiate between clusters of self-reported symptoms.
AB - Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Cohen–Hoberman inventory of physical symptoms (CHIPS). Construct and discriminant validity were examined by assessing associations between factors and subjective health complaints (SHC) inventory subscales in addition to measures of pain sensitivity, perceived stress and psychological distress. Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 535 healthy individuals from the general population (80.6% female, mean age = 29.80). Main outcome measures: Participants completed CHIPS, SHC, perceived stress scale, pain sensitivity questionnaire, and hospital anxiety and depression scale. Results: Principal components analysis demonstrated that CHIPS comprised 8 ‘symptoms’ factors as follows; ‘sympathetic/cardiac’ (7 items; α = .827), ‘muscular’ (6 items; α = .752), ‘metabolic’ (5 items; α = .736), ‘gastrointestinal’ (5 items; α = .714), ‘vasovagal’ (4 items; α = .743), ‘cold/flu’ (2 items; α = .837), ‘headache’ (2 items; α = .690) and ‘minor haemorrhagic’ (2 items; α = .309). Significant correlations were observed between factors and SHC subscales (moderate-high), pain sensitivity (negligible-low) and levels of perceived stress and anxiety (low-moderate) indicating good construct, and discriminant validity, respectively. Conclusions: CHIPS is a multidimensional and internally consistent measurement of physical symptoms. The postulated factor structure may be used for research purposes particularly in health psychology, to consistently differentiate between clusters of self-reported symptoms.
KW - distress
KW - factor structure
KW - physical symptoms
KW - subjective health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85013082900&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08870446.2017.1290237
DO - 10.1080/08870446.2017.1290237
M3 - Article
C2 - 28276744
AN - SCOPUS:85013082900
SN - 0887-0446
VL - 32
SP - 567
EP - 587
JO - Psychology and Health
JF - Psychology and Health
IS - 5
ER -