The Relationship of Hypochondriasis Measures to Correlates of Personality in the Elderly

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship of hypochondriasis to degree of endorsement of each of the sixteen scales constituting the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionaire (16 PF) by 102 elderly individuals from retirement communities and private residences. Scale one of the MMPI and the Hypochondriasis Scale for Institutional Geriatric Patients (HSIG) served as measures of hypochondriasis in the prediction of 16 PF scores. Six of the multiple regression analyses performed and one set of zero order correlations relating 16 PF factors to measures of hypochondriasis were found to be significant. Of the seven factors involved in these analyses, five (Factor C, Ego Strength; Factor H, Boldness; Factor O, Guilt Proneness; Factor Q3, Ability to Bind Anxiety; and Factor Q4, Free-Floating Anxiety) are among the six “loadings” for Cattell et al.'s (1982) second order construct of Anxiety. It is suggested that anxiety and neuroticism may be significant predisposing factors in the development of hypochondriasis in the elderly and that hypochondriasis may take a more subtle, more inwardly focused form in the elderly than in younger populations.

Key Words:

• Elders
• hypochondriasis
• 16 PF