extended · article · 2025

The Illusory Health Beliefs Scale: validation using exploratory structural equation modeling and multidimensional Rasch analysis

Andrew Denovan; Neil Dagnall; Kenneth Graham Drinkwater

The Illusory Health Beliefs Scale (IHBS) is a multidimensional instrument that evaluates endorsement of scientifically unsubstantiated, illusory health-oriented notions. These beliefs are important because they potentially influence attitudes/actions to the detriment of personal wellbeing/health. Preceding research examining IHBS item performance at the unidimensional subscale level identified five dimensions (Religious/Spiritual, Superstition, Precognitive, Health Myths, Skepticism), and an independent Health Pseudoscience subscale. The present paper extended latent structure analysis by employing exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and multidimensional Rasch analysis. Concurrently, statistical appraisal tested convergent validity via relationships with related health-based constructs (i.e., health locus of control, HLC and beliefs about complementary and alternative medicin...