The Relationship Between Illusory Health Beliefs, Recommended Health Behaviours, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Investigation Across Multiple Time Points

Denovan, A, Dagnall, N and Drinkwater, KG (2025) The Relationship Between Illusory Health Beliefs, Recommended Health Behaviours, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Investigation Across Multiple Time Points. Behavioral Sciences, 15 (5).

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Abstract

Illusory health beliefs (IHBs) represent invalid ideations about health and potentially impact health behaviours and practices in meaningful ways. Examples include the uptake of methods with less conclusive evidence/support (e.g., complementary and alternative medicine, CAM) versus empirically validated approaches (e.g., recommended by health professionals). However, measurement obfuscation of IHB has hindered construct operationalisation. This study examined a newly developed measure (the Illusory Health Beliefs Scale) in the context of health outcomes. Specifically, we explored adherence to recommended health behaviours (e.g., lifestyle, vaccines) and trust in healthcare professionals versus CAM use. Assessments included theoretically linked constructs, comprising health locus of control, belief in science, and belief in CAM. Using a sample of 1507 (734 males, 768 females, 7 non-binary), a statistical model tested relationships across time points. Path analysis revealed that IHBs aligned with openness to orthodox treatments alongside lower confidence in conventional treatment methods. Crucially, locus of control and belief in science mediated/weakened this relationship, predicting greater adherence to health recommendations and trust in health professionals. Belief in CAM strengthened the relationship between IHBs and CAM use. The findings provide initial evidence regarding the contribution of IHBs to health outcomes, and a basis for future research to further explore the IHB-health relationship.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences; 3202 Clinical sciences; 5202 Biological psychology; 5203 Clinical and health psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	MDPI
Date of acceptance:	24 April 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	7 May 2025
Date Deposited:	07 May 2025 08:40
Last Modified:	07 May 2025 08:45
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/bs15050614
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26315

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