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The Cyber Paranoia and Fear Scale-Updated (CPFS-U): development and implications for digital health engagement.

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Τίτλος: The Cyber Paranoia and Fear Scale-Updated (CPFS-U): development and implications for digital health engagement.
Συγγραφείς: Greenway FT; Southampton Psychosis and Bipolar Research and Innovation Group, Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK f.t.greenway@soton.ac.uk.; School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK., Weal M; School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK., Palmer-Cooper E; Southampton Psychosis and Bipolar Research and Innovation Group, Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Πηγή: BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2026 Jul 06; Vol. 16 (7), pp. e115399. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 06.
Τύπος έκδοσης: Journal Article
Γλώσσα: English
Στοιχεία περιοδικού: Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101552874 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2044-6055 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20446055 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMJ Open Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: [London] : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2011-
Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): Fear*/psychology , Paranoid Disorders*/psychology, Humans ; Digital Health ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Psychometrics ; Artificial Intelligence ; Middle Aged ; Digital Media ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Adolescent ; Reproducibility of Results ; Internet ; Trust
Περίληψη: Objectives: To update and revalidate the Cyber Paranoia and Fear Scale to reflect current technological contexts and examine its relevance to digital health readiness and engagement.
Methods: Using an online community sample (n=433), exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factor structure of the revised item pool. Items were refined through consultation with Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement groups to ensure contemporary relevance and clarity.
Results: Analysis supported a four-factor structure representing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital dependence, technological risk awareness, perceived data vulnerability and surveillance-related mistrust. The updated Cyber Paranoia and Fear Scale-Updated (CPFS-U) demonstrated good internal consistency and supported construct validity. Cyber-paranoia and fear were conceptually and empirically distinct from general paranoia and anxiety, highlighting the specific cognitive and emotional responses elicited by digital technologies.
Conclusions: The CPFS-U offers a psychometrically robust, modernised measure for understanding individuals' responses to digital and AI-based technologies. Its application in digital health research and practice can inform risk communication, user engagement strategies and the design of trustworthy digital interventions. By identifying individuals who may disengage due to online mistrust, the CPFS-U has the potential to inform more inclusive and psychologically informed digital health systems.
(© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)
Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.
References: JMIR Ment Health. 2024 Oct 11;11:e60589. (PMID: 39392869)
Front Psychol. 2014 Nov 24;5:1298. (PMID: 25505431)
Br J Psychiatry. 2005 May;186:427-35. (PMID: 15863749)
Psychol Med. 2001 Feb;31(2):189-95. (PMID: 11232907)
BMC Med Educ. 2023 Sep 22;23(1):689. (PMID: 37740191)
J Infect Public Health. 2021 Jul;14(7):927-937. (PMID: 34119847)
Heliyon. 2023 Jan 07;9(1):e12834. (PMID: 36691547)
BMJ Ment Health. 2023 Nov;26(1):. (PMID: 37945313)
Br J Clin Psychol. 2000 Nov;39(4):407-14. (PMID: 11107494)
Public Underst Sci. 2015 Oct;24(7):842-57. (PMID: 24510921)
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1992 Jan;62(1):129-38. (PMID: 1538311)
Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. (PMID: 16717171)
BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Feb 26;24(1):243. (PMID: 38408938)
J Robot Surg. 2024 Mar 1;18(1):102. (PMID: 38427094)
Psychol Med. 2001 Oct;31(7):1293-306. (PMID: 11681555)
Psychol Med. 2023 Oct;53(13):5933-5944. (PMID: 37427557)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Digital Technology; eHealth
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260706 Date Completed: 20260707 Latest Revision: 20260813
Update Code: 20260814
PubMed Central ID: PMC13343035
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-115399
PMID: 42409404
Βάση Δεδομένων: MEDLINE
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  Data: Objectives: To update and revalidate the Cyber Paranoia and Fear Scale to reflect current technological contexts and examine its relevance to digital health readiness and engagement.<br />Methods: Using an online community sample (n=433), exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factor structure of the revised item pool. Items were refined through consultation with Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement groups to ensure contemporary relevance and clarity.<br />Results: Analysis supported a four-factor structure representing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital dependence, technological risk awareness, perceived data vulnerability and surveillance-related mistrust. The updated Cyber Paranoia and Fear Scale-Updated (CPFS-U) demonstrated good internal consistency and supported construct validity. Cyber-paranoia and fear were conceptually and empirically distinct from general paranoia and anxiety, highlighting the specific cognitive and emotional responses elicited by digital technologies.<br />Conclusions: The CPFS-U offers a psychometrically robust, modernised measure for understanding individuals' responses to digital and AI-based technologies. Its application in digital health research and practice can inform risk communication, user engagement strategies and the design of trustworthy digital interventions. By identifying individuals who may disengage due to online mistrust, the CPFS-U has the potential to inform more inclusive and psychologically informed digital health systems.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)
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  Data: Competing interests: None declared.
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  Data: JMIR Ment Health. 2024 Oct 11;11:e60589. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2239392869%22">39392869)</searchLink><br />Front Psychol. 2014 Nov 24;5:1298. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2225505431%22">25505431)</searchLink><br />Br J Psychiatry. 2005 May;186:427-35. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2215863749%22">15863749)</searchLink><br />Psychol Med. 2001 Feb;31(2):189-95. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2211232907%22">11232907)</searchLink><br />BMC Med Educ. 2023 Sep 22;23(1):689. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237740191%22">37740191)</searchLink><br />J Infect Public Health. 2021 Jul;14(7):927-937. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2234119847%22">34119847)</searchLink><br />Heliyon. 2023 Jan 07;9(1):e12834. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2236691547%22">36691547)</searchLink><br />BMJ Ment Health. 2023 Nov;26(1):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237945313%22">37945313)</searchLink><br />Br J Clin Psychol. 2000 Nov;39(4):407-14. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2211107494%22">11107494)</searchLink><br />Public Underst Sci. 2015 Oct;24(7):842-57. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2224510921%22">24510921)</searchLink><br />J Pers Soc Psychol. 1992 Jan;62(1):129-38. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%221538311%22">1538311)</searchLink><br />Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2216717171%22">16717171)</searchLink><br />BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Feb 26;24(1):243. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2238408938%22">38408938)</searchLink><br />J Robot Surg. 2024 Mar 1;18(1):102. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2238427094%22">38427094)</searchLink><br />Psychol Med. 2001 Oct;31(7):1293-306. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2211681555%22">11681555)</searchLink><br />Psychol Med. 2023 Oct;53(13):5933-5944. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237427557%22">37427557)</searchLink>
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