Health uncertainty: scale development and its effect on health behaviors

Ren, R, Tao, S, Ouyang, Y and Du, W ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5115-7214, 2026. Health uncertainty: scale development and its effect on health behaviors. Journal of Health Psychology. ISSN 1359-1053

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Abstract

While health-related awareness has been extensively studied, the concept of health uncertainty in the general population remains inadequately conceptualized and operationalized. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework and measurement tool for health uncertainty, and to examine its associations with health anxiety and health behaviors. The research comprised two studies conducted in China. Study 1 developed and validated a health uncertainty scale using data from 709 participants. The scale, which comprises dimensions of health status uncertainty, health changes unpredictability, and health threat and information ambiguity, demonstrated good reliability and validity. Study 2 employed a questionnaire-based approach with 345 participants and showed that health uncertainty negatively predicted health behaviors, with health anxiety acting as a mediator. The findings highlight the impact of health uncertainty on psychological and behavioral responses, emphasizing the need for strategies to reduce uncertainty during public health crises to promote healthier behaviors and achieve public health goals.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Health Psychology
Creators:	Ren, R., Tao, S., Ouyang, Y. and Du, W.
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Date:	13 January 2026
ISSN:	1359-1053
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/13591053251405156 DOI 2557927 Other
Rights:	Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Borcherds
Date Added:	29 Jan 2026 11:54
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2026 11:54
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55152

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