Table 3.

Results of final factor analysis existing of 26 items

Item (item no.)	Mood problems	Negative illness perceptions	Issues in sexual functioning	Physical and cognitive complaints	Issues in social functioning
More easily irritated (20)	.780	.058	.097	−.074	.034
Changes in personality (18)	.595	−.137	.098	−.091	.120
Emotional reactions have changed (19)	.585	−.011	.027	−.219	.049
Mood swings (12)	.584	−.128	.091	−.125	.022
Anger (23)	.491	−.220	−.033	.056	.227
Panic (13)	.319	−.078	−.079	−.204	.224
Negative thoughts about how condition will progress (37)	−.028	−.809	−.018	−.040	.081
Negative thoughts about the extent to which the condition can be kept under control (38)	−.109	−.756	.043	−.029	.163
Negative thoughts about the consequences of the condition (36)	.135	−.678	−.050	−.027	.054
Worried about physical symptoms (16)	.218	−.537	.070	−.168	−.021
Afraid that pituitary tumour will recur (17)	.240	−.438	.159	.089	−.004
Less interested in sex (41)	.010	.040	.822	−.063	−.056
Physical problems during sex (40)	−.017	.017	.783	.018	.114
Guilt towards partner/close family (26)	.200	−.170	.305	−.051	.193
Problems concentrating (6)	.079	.066	.010	−.766	.097
Memory problems (8)	.114	.152	−.010	−.704	.127
Fatigue (1)	−.023	−.108	.185	−.694	−.096
Difficulties in doing several things at the same time (7)	.076	.015	.048	−.644	.137
Pain (2)	−.134	−.365	.028	−.501	.022
Going beyond own limits (33)	.167	−.135	.052	−.461	−.003
Changes in physical appearance (3)	.093	−.174	.052	−.358	.036
Circle of friends has become smaller (45)	−.127	−.017	.085	.027	.847
Loneliness (25)	.195	−.051	−.087	−.110	.682
Feeling uncomfortable in social situations (46)	.058	−.073	.046	.001	.620
Lack of understanding of the consequences of the condition from people in social circle (47)	.074	−.028	.025	−.130	.548
Feeling the need to be alone (30)	.260	−.038	.089	−.092	.421
Cronbach’s alpha	.889	.861	.765	.876	.862

Factor loadings in bold

α: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient