The effect of health anxiety on attitudes toward disease prevention in individuals with and without a family history of hypertension.

Abstract

This study aims to examine how health anxiety and demographic characteristics influence attitudes toward hypertension prevention in individuals with and without a family history of hypertension (family HHT). This cross-sectional study included 1,139 individuals over the age of 18. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using the Attitudes Scale Towards Prevention of HT (ASPH) and the Health Anxiety Scale (HAS). In addition to scale scores, demographic characteristics and family history of hypertension were also collected. The survey link was shared via social media, allowing participants to distribute it within their networks. The mean ASPH score was 98.31 ± 21.91, highest in prevention and control (31.55 ± 7.28). Age correlated with mental and physical activity (p = 0.026) and nutritional behavior (p = 0.041), while BMI was linked to hypertension attitudes (p = 0.006). Regression analysis showed that gender (B = -6.609, p < 0.001) and a family HHT (B = -0.574, p = 0.013) significantly influenced attitudes toward hypertension prevention, with men and those with a family HHT scoring lower than their counterparts. Scatter plots revealed higher health anxiety and stronger hypertension attitudes in those with hypertensive parents, while attitudes were more varied among individuals with hypertensive siblings or grandparents. These findings highlight the impact of family hypertension history and demographics on hypertension attitudes and health anxiety, emphasizing early awareness, targeted health education for gender differences, and preventive strategies for high-risk groups.