Table 3 Rotated factor loading matrix (oblimin rotation)

 Hay fever is a disease

0.179

− 0.0180

0.116

0.751

− 0.022

0.012

 Hay fever is a chronic health condition [Ex]

0.208

0.055

0.213

0.591

−0.073

0.180

 Hay fever is a serious health condition

0.421

0.132

0.116

0.649

− 0.064

0.183

 Hay fever is a health condition that has to be treated [Ex]

0.355

0.208

0.023

0.537

0.030

0.358

 I see my hay fever as a long-term health condition

0.389

0.099

0.142

0.736

0.011

0.007

 Hay fever influences an individual’s well-being [Ex]

0.198

0.176

−0.007

0.344

−0.041

0.006

 …I feel physically burdened

0.812

0.066

0.225

0.325

−0.089

0.070

 …I feel limited in my social life

0.772

−0.018

0.256

0.387

−0.115

0.059

 …I feel limited in my spare time

0.815

−0.011

0.217

0.335

−0.077

0.024

 …my sleep quality is burdened

0.662

−0.014

0.233

0.262

−0.219

0.061

 …my overall well-being is burdened

0.799

−0.006

0.146

0.304

−0.097

0.075

 …I experience a loss of productivity

0.773

0.085

0.082

0.288

−0.051

0.066

 …weakens symptom severity

−0.032

0.752

−0.203

− 0.056

0.341

0.175

 …helps better control allergic symptoms

−0.034

0.774

−0.029

0.283

0.083

0.261

 …helps manage everyday routines

0.052

0.762

−0.111

0.222

0.252

0.190

 …improve overall well-being

0.017

0.804

−0.249

0.001

0.291

0.232

 …helps staying productive during the pollen season [Ex]

0.041

0.553

−0.180

0.083

0.337

0.168

 …is time consuming

0.036

−0.016

0.739

0.150

−0.122

−0.030

 …is impairing my everyday life

0.273

−0.274

0.769

0.101

−0.176

−0.172

 …requires substantial financial effort

0.323

−0.101

0.553

0.167

−0.201

−0.076

 …is annoying

0.172

−0.296

0.755

0.014

−0.105

−0.164

 …is inconvenient

0.163

−0.215

0.788

0.143

−0.118

−0.209

 …is not worth it [Ex]

0.167

−0.586

0.464

0.007

−0.433

−0.169

 Overall, I am capable of undertaking allergy management measures

−0.102

0.308

−0.030

0.017

0.727

0.245

 If required, I am capable of taking allergy management measures consistently

0.233

0.288

0.015

0.162

0.634

0.119

 If required, I am capable of taking allergy management measures regularly

−0.169

0.214

−0.214

− 0.139

0.807

0.144

 If required, I am capable of taking allergy management measures despite difficulties [Ex]

−0.229

0.457

−0.327

−0.140

0.629

0.087

 I can affect my health-related well-being during the pollen season

−0.231

0.202

−0.224

−0.047

0.653

0.016

 My health-related well-being during the pollen season is dependent on my health behavior [Ex]

0.099

0.217

−0.181

0.048

0.013

0.707

 If I take care of my allergy management during the pollen season, I can avoid severe allergic symptom [Ex]

0.025

0.276

−0.016

0.174

0.282

0.679

 Proper allergy management requires me to change my habits, which is difficult for me [Ex] [R]

0.146

0.162

−0.043

0.181

0.140

0.664

 My health-related well-being during the pollen season is dependent exclusively on factors I cannot control [Ex][R]

−0.213

0.108

−0.472

−0.136

0.056

0.538

 If required, I can overcome inconveniences and difficulties related to allergy management during the pollen season [Ex]

−0.253

0.274

−0.320

−0.033

0.219

0.270