Modern health worries and idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields are associated with paranoid ideation.

Journal of psychosomatic research · 2021 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 5692

In a cross-sectional online community survey (n=700), paranoid ideation was positively associated with modern health worries (standardized β=0.150, p<.001) after controlling for sociodemographics and somatosensory amplification. Paranoid ideation was also ass…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of psychosomatic research · 2021

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Paranoid ideation is assumed to characterize worries about possible harmful effects of modern technologies (MHWs) and idiopathic environmental intolerances (IEIs), such as IEI attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF). Empirical evidence on these associations is scarce. METHODS: In a cross-sectional on-line survey, participants of a community sample (n = 700; mean age: 28.4 ± 12.0; 434 females) completed the Somatosensory Amplification Scale, the Modern Health Worries Scale, and the Paranoid Ideation scale of the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised. They were considered IEI-EMF if (1) they categorized themselves so, (2) they had experienced symptoms that they attributed to the exposure to electromagnetic fields, and (3) the condition impacted their everyday functioning. RESULTS: Paranoid ideation was significantly positively associated with MHWs (standardized β = 0.150, p < .001) even after controlling for socio-demographic variables and somatosensory amplification tendency, an indicator of somatic symptom distress. Also, paranoid ideation explained significant variability in IEI-EMF (OR = 1.090, 95% CI: 1.006-1.180, p = .035) even after statistically controlling for socio-demographic variables and somatosensory amplification. CONCLUSIONS: Paranoid ideation was found to be associated with MHWs and IEI-EMF. This association appears independent of general somatic symptom distress in both cases. This might partly explain the temporal stability of these constructs.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionunclear

PopulationCommunity sample (online survey)

Sample size700

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Modern health worries (Modern Health Worries Scale)
Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF; self-categorization plus symptoms attributed to EMF plus impact on functioning)
Paranoid ideation (SCL-90-R Paranoid Ideation scale)
Somatosensory amplification (Somatosensory Amplification Scale)

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (associations only; no causal inference)
Online survey/community sample may limit generalizability
IEI-EMF classification based on self-report and symptom attribution criteria

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Community sample (online survey)",
  "sample_size": 700,
  "outcomes": [
    "Modern health worries (Modern Health Worries Scale)",
    "Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF; self-categorization plus symptoms attributed to EMF plus impact on functioning)",
    "Paranoid ideation (SCL-90-R Paranoid Ideation scale)",
    "Somatosensory amplification (Somatosensory Amplification Scale)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a cross-sectional online community survey (n=700), paranoid ideation was positively associated with modern health worries (standardized β=0.150, p<.001) after controlling for sociodemographics and somatosensory amplification. Paranoid ideation was also associated with IEI-EMF status (OR=1.090, 95% CI: 1.006–1.180, p=.035) after similar adjustments.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design (associations only; no causal inference)",
    "Online survey/community sample may limit generalizability",
    "IEI-EMF classification based on self-report and symptom attribution criteria"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "modern health worries",
    "idiopathic environmental intolerance",
    "IEI-EMF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "paranoid ideation",
    "somatosensory amplification",
    "cross-sectional",
    "online survey"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110501
PubMed: 33930739

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