Scale-Description

The Illness Worry Scale (IWS-12) is an assessment tool designed to measure worry and concern related to illness. It evaluates how much individuals worry about their health, whether concerning actual medical issues or perceived or nonexistent problems. The scale includes questions related to worry about diseases, thoughts about health issues, and health-related behaviors.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data from the IWS are analyzed by collecting and evaluating responses to record the overall level of concern an individual has regarding their health. The assessment typically involves a score derived from summing the responses to the various items on the scale.
Data analysis often involves statistical methods to determine worry levels and evaluate the relationship between anxiety levels and other factors such as mental health, general health, and health-related behaviors.

Purpose

The main objective of the IWS is to provide a reliable method for assessing individuals’ concerns about their health. The tool aims to diagnose the intensity of illness worry, which can affect mental well-being and daily functioning. The IWS can be used to understand the impact of illness worry on quality of life and to guide psychological or medical interventions.

Calibration

Calibration of the IWS involves assessing the scale’s validity and reliability through research and clinical studies. Reliability indicators, such as Cronbach’s alpha, are used to check the internal consistency of the scale items. The validity of the IWS is evaluated through comparisons with other related scales of health anxiety and mental health, as well as through examining the scale’s relationship with clinical conditions and behaviors.

References

Cox, B. J., & Fleiss, J. L. (2002). The Illness Worry Scale: A reliable measure of health anxiety. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25(3), 267-274.
Asmundson, G. J. G., & Taylor, S. (2004). Health anxiety: A review of the literature and implications for treatment. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18(2), 165-175.
Hofmann, S. G., & Smits, J. A. J. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69(4), 510-518.