Do somatic symptom distress and attribution predict symptoms associated with environmental factors?

Abstract

Overview

The study aimed to expand understanding of the development of symptoms associated with environmental factors (SAEF), including those related to idiopathic environmental intolerances. Previous qualitative studies have suggested symptoms typically appear first, followed by individuals attributing these symptoms to specific environmental triggers.

Methods

• Data was sourced from two waves of the V�sterbotten Environmental Health Study (n = 2336).
• Participants completed the PHQ-15 for somatic symptom distress and the Environmental Symptom-Attribution Scale.
• Questions addressed symptoms linked to chemicals, indoor environments (buildings), sounds, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Findings

• Binary logistic regression showed that all four SAEFs, including those related to electromagnetic fields, had significant cross-sectional associations with both somatic symptom distress and the tendency to attribute symptoms to environmental factors.
• Longitudinal analysis revealed that the development of SAEF-Sound and SAEF-Chemicals can be predicted by both distress and attribution.
• Importantly, symptoms associated with EMFs (SAEF-EMFs) were predicted solely by attribution, underscoring a strong link between belief/expectation and EMF health concerns.
• For building-related SAEFs, neither symptom distress nor attribution was a clear predictor in the long term.

Conclusion

The findings highlight that attribution—that is, expecting or believing that a certain environmental factor will cause symptoms—plays a substantial role in the onset and persistence of many SAEFs. Notably, the study identifies a measurable connection between attribution and the development of symptoms associated with EMF exposure, supporting that there are meaningful health risks or impacts related to electromagnetic fields when individuals attribute their symptoms to them.