1-s2.0-S0887618522000834-main.pdf (1.28 MB)
Development and psychometric evaluation of a scrambled sentences test specifically for worry in individuals with generalised anxiety disorder
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 04:50 authored by Charlotte Krahé, Frances Meeten, Colette R HirschThe tendency to draw negative conclusions from ambiguous information (interpretation bias) is prevalent across emotional disorders and plays a key role in the development and maintenance of pathological worry and anxious mood. Assessing interpretation bias using valid and reliable measures is central to empirical research. A commonly used measure of interpretation bias is the scrambled sentences test (SST), originally relating to depression. Given the association between interpretation bias and worry, we aimed to develop and psychometrically evaluate a new version of the SST with items pertaining to common worry domains for use in worry and anxiety research. In Studies 1–3 (analogue samples, combined N = 288), the new worry SST showed excellent construct validity (moderate-to-strong associations with worry and anxiety-related measures), and reliability (split-half and test-retest reliability). We confirmed construct validity in Study 4 (N = 215 individuals with generalised anxiety disorder). Furthermore, we demonstrated version specificity in analogue and clinical samples: the worry SST was associated with trait worry but not trait rumination, while the original depression SST largely showed the opposite pattern. Overall, the new worry SST is a psychometrically robust measure that may be especially useful for research into cognitive processes underpinning worry and anxiety.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Journal of Anxiety DisordersISSN
0887-6185Publisher
Elsevier BVExternal DOI
Volume
91Page range
a102610Event location
NetherlandsDepartment affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2022-09-27First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-09-27First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2022-09-26Usage metrics
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