A Structural Assessment of the 30-Item Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children and Its Relations to Anxiety Symptoms
A Structural Assessment of the 30-Item Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children and Its Relations to Anxiety Symptoms
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DOI：
10.1037/a0033793
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发表时间：
2013-12-01
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Reinholdt-Dunne, Marie Louise
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Esbjorn, Barbara H.;Somhovd, Mikael J.;Reinholdt-Dunne, Marie Louise
焦虑的理论模型已经在成年人中发展起来。使用为评估所提出的理论机制而开发的问卷的向下扩展，评估了这些模型在儿童样本中的适用性。这构成了挑战，因为孩子们仍处于发展所评估的技能的过程中。因此，这一发展中人群需要健全的心理测量评估工具，以确保及早发现导致儿童焦虑症的机制。这项研究检验了在成人广泛性焦虑症（GAD）中起关键作用的元认知是否也可以在儿童时期得到可靠的评估。该研究调查了 30 项儿童元认知问卷（MCQ-C30；Gerlach、Adam、Marschke 和 Melfsen，2008 年）的心理测量特性，调查对象为全国 974 名 9-17 岁儿童和青少年（538 名女孩）。验证性因子分析支持 5 因子子量表结构和二阶总量表因子，这与该量表的早期版本相对应。 MCQ-C30 预计与焦虑症状和担忧显着相关。结构方程模型显示，强迫症和广泛性焦虑症症状均显着回归到 MCQ-C30 上。我们为儿童和青少年安装了单独的模型，模型之间没有明显的差异。不出所料，女性与一般元认知水平的提高有关。这种性别效应是由焦虑水平介导的。总体而言，MCQ-C30 在我们社区 9-17 岁儿童样本中表现出可接受的心理测量特性。未来的研究应该调查该仪器在临床样本和幼儿样本中的心理测量特性。
Theoretical models of anxiety have been developed in adult populations. The applicability of these models in child samples has been assessed using downward extensions of the questionnaires developed to assess the proposed theoretical mechanisms. This poses a challenge, as children are still in the process of developing the skills that are being assessed. Psychometrically sound assessment tools are therefore needed for this developing population, in order to ensure the early detection of mechanisms leading to anxiety disorders in children. This study examined if metacognitions, which play a key role in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults, can also be reliably assessed in childhood. The study investigated the psychometric properties of the 30-item Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children (MCQ-C30; Gerlach, Adam, Marschke, & Melfsen, 2008) in a national sample of 974 children and adolescents (538 girls) ages 9-17 years. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 5-factor subscale structure and a 2nd-order total scale factor, which corresponds with previous versions of the scale. MCQ-C30 expectedly correlated significantly with anxiety symptoms and worry. Structural equation modeling revealed that both obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms regressed significantly onto the MCQ-C30. We fitted separate models for children and adolescents, and no noticeable differences are suggested between the models. Female gender was, expectedly, associated with increased levels of general metacognitions. This gender effect was mediated by level of anxiety. Overall, the MCQ-C30 exhibited acceptable psychometric properties in our community sample of children ages 9-17 years. Future studies should investigate the psychometric properties of the instrument in clinical samples and samples of younger children.