Worry Beliefs Scale: A Scale Development Study

Abstract

According to Metacognitive Therapy, worry beliefs are an important concept, especially in the formation of generalized anxiety disorder. This study aimed to develop a worry belief scale for university students. The scale development process involved several key steps to ensure its validity and reliability. Initially, qualitative interviews informed the creation of an item pool, which was refined through expert feedback. The scale was then administered, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to identify the factor structure, followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate this structure. After establishing structural validity, criterion validity was assessed, and reliability was measured using an appropriate coefficient. Following these analyses, the Worry Belief Scale was finalized with 27 items across three dimensions, demonstrating strong psychometric properties. The dimensions were named positive beliefs, dangerousness and harmfulness beliefs, and uncontrollability beliefs, respectively. The worry belief scale was applied to a different sample and examined whether worry beliefs differed according to the gender variable. A significant difference was found in the positive beliefs dimension according to the gender variable. The findings obtained were discussed in the light of the literature.

Keywords

• Worry
• Worry beliefs
• Scale development

Endişe İnançları Ölçeği: Bir Ölçek Geliştirme Çalışması

Abstract

Endişe inançları, Üstbilişsel Terapi’ye göre özellikle yaygın kaygı bozukluğunun oluşmasında önemli bir kavramdır. Bu araştırmada da üniversite öğrencilerine yönelik endişe inançları ölçeği geliştirmek amaçlanmıştır. Ölçek geliştirme sürecinde nitel görüşmelerin yapılması, madde havuzunun hazırlanması, uzman görüşünün alınması, uygulamanın yapılması, Açımlayıcı Faktör Analizi (AFA) ve Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi (DFA) adımları izlenmiş; faktör analizi ile elde edilen yapı geçerliliğinin ardından ölçüt geçerliliğine bakılmış ve güvenirlik katsayısı hesaplanmıştır. İstatistiksel işlemler sonrasında endişe inançları ölçeği 27 madde ve 3 boyutla son halini almıştır. Boyutlar sırasıyla olumlu inançlar, tehlikelilik ve zararlılık inancı ve kontrol edilemezlik inancı olarak isimlendirilmiştir. Endişe inançları ölçeği farklı bir örnekleme uygulanarak endişe inançlarının cinsiyet değişkenine göre farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı incelenmiştir. Olumlu inançlar boyutunda cinsiyet değişkenine göre anlamlı bir fark bulunmuştur. Elde edilen bulgular, alanyazın ışığında tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

• Endişe
• Endişe inançları
• Ölçek geliştirme

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