Predicting individual differences in motion sickness susceptibility by questionnaire

Motion sickness susceptibility questionnaires (MSSQ) predict individual differences in motion sickness caused by a variety of stimuli. The aim was to develop a short MSSQ. Development used repeated item analysis and various scoring methods. Retained were motion types (cars, boats, planes, trains, funfair rides, etc.); corrections for motion type exposure; sickness severity weightings; childhood versus adult experiences. Excluded were visual/optokinetic items (cinerama, virtual reality, etc.) with low sickness prevalence, they added little information but could become important in the future. Norms and percentiles were produced (n = 257). Predictive validity used controlled motions (total n = 178): cross-coupled (Coriolis); 0.2 Hz frequency translational oscillation; off vertical axis rotation (OVAR); visual-motion simulator. Predictive validity for motion was median r = 0.51. Relationship between MSSQ-Short and other non-motion sources of nausea and vomiting (e.g. headaches, food, stress, viral, etc.) in the last 12 months was r = 0.2 (p < 0.01). Reliability: Cronbach’s alpha 0.87; test–retest reliability around r = 0.9; Part A (child) with Part B (adult) r = 0.68. MSSQ-Short provides reliability with an efficient compromise between length (reduced time cost) and validity (predicted motion susceptibility). Language variants include French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Flemish, German, Russian and Chinese.