German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample

Abstract Background The Specific Phobia of Vomiting Inventory (SPOVI) is a 14-item instrument measuring behavioral avoidance and threat monitoring associated with emetophobia. The current study aimed to provide a German translation of the SPOVI and examine its psychometric properties and correlates....

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Main Authors: Severin Hennemann, Antonia Weirich, Adrian Meule, Anne-Kathrin Bräscher, Michael Witthöft
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06744-0
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author Severin Hennemann
Antonia Weirich
Adrian Meule
Anne-Kathrin Bräscher
Michael Witthöft
author_facet Severin Hennemann
Antonia Weirich
Adrian Meule
Anne-Kathrin Bräscher
Michael Witthöft
author_sort Severin Hennemann
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Specific Phobia of Vomiting Inventory (SPOVI) is a 14-item instrument measuring behavioral avoidance and threat monitoring associated with emetophobia. The current study aimed to provide a German translation of the SPOVI and examine its psychometric properties and correlates. Methods N = 441 adults from the general population and N = 465 outpatients with mental disorders completed the SPOVI and other self-report measures. Factor structure, reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity, as well as clinical utility, were investigated. Results The German version of the SPOVI had a one-factor structure and high internal consistency in both samples (ωs > 0.90). Large correlations (rs > 0.50) with questionnaires assessing phobic anxiety, general anxiety, illness-related anxiety, and disgust sensitivity supported convergent validity, while relatively low correlations with questionnaires assessing depression, eating disorders or paranoid ideation supported discriminant validity. Among outpatients, those with a specific phobia diagnosis had the highest SPOVI scores. Conclusion The German translation of the SPOVI has sound psychometric properties and is a potentially practical clinical screening instrument for emetophobia. Pre-registration https://aspredicted.org/5y6zb.pdf .
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spelling doaj-art-a5d9fc156f6d47b693d3a9326b0ae71d2025-08-20T03:27:10ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-03-0125111210.1186/s12888-025-06744-0German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sampleSeverin Hennemann0Antonia Weirich1Adrian Meule2Anne-Kathrin Bräscher3Michael Witthöft4Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Psychology, University of RegensburgDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy and Experimental Psychopathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzAbstract Background The Specific Phobia of Vomiting Inventory (SPOVI) is a 14-item instrument measuring behavioral avoidance and threat monitoring associated with emetophobia. The current study aimed to provide a German translation of the SPOVI and examine its psychometric properties and correlates. Methods N = 441 adults from the general population and N = 465 outpatients with mental disorders completed the SPOVI and other self-report measures. Factor structure, reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity, as well as clinical utility, were investigated. Results The German version of the SPOVI had a one-factor structure and high internal consistency in both samples (ωs > 0.90). Large correlations (rs > 0.50) with questionnaires assessing phobic anxiety, general anxiety, illness-related anxiety, and disgust sensitivity supported convergent validity, while relatively low correlations with questionnaires assessing depression, eating disorders or paranoid ideation supported discriminant validity. Among outpatients, those with a specific phobia diagnosis had the highest SPOVI scores. Conclusion The German translation of the SPOVI has sound psychometric properties and is a potentially practical clinical screening instrument for emetophobia. Pre-registration https://aspredicted.org/5y6zb.pdf .https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06744-0EmetophobiaFear of vomitingSpecific phobiaSPOVIGerman translation
spellingShingle Severin Hennemann
Antonia Weirich
Adrian Meule
Anne-Kathrin Bräscher
Michael Witthöft
German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample
BMC Psychiatry
Emetophobia
Fear of vomiting
Specific phobia
SPOVI
German translation
title German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample
title_full German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample
title_fullStr German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample
title_full_unstemmed German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample
title_short German version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory (SPOVI): psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non-clinical sample
title_sort german version of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory spovi psychometric properties and correlates in a clinical and non clinical sample
topic Emetophobia
Fear of vomiting
Specific phobia
SPOVI
German translation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06744-0
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