Measuring negative thinking in adults
Graduation Date
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Academic Research, 2016
Committee Chair Name
William Reynolds
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Psychology, Adults, Measure, Psychometrics, Worry, Rumination, Repetitive negative thinking, Instrument, Internalizing psychopathology
Abstract
Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT), a cognitive process associated with internalizing psychopathology, has primarily been investigated in the disorder-specific forms of rumination (associated with depression) and worry (associated with anxiety). High rates of comorbidity between depression and anxiety suggest the value of assessing RNT as a composite construct, comprised of aspects of both rumination and worry, which can be assessed as a transdiagnostic risk factor for internalizing psychopathology. The present study describes the development and validation of the Repetitive Negative Thinking Scale (RNTS), a transdiagnostic self-report instrument for measuring RNT. Participants (N = 329) were college students and community adults who anonymously completed either paper-and-pencil or online surveys. High internal consistency and test-retest reliability were found for the RNTS. Validity of the RNTS was demonstrated by a strong correlation with a measure of perseverative thinking and moderate correlations with measures of rumination and worry (criterion validity); moderate correlations with measures of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress (convergent validity); and weak correlations with measures of extraversion and social desirability (discriminant validity). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the RNTS. Overall, results provide strong evidence for the reliability and validity of the RNTS for use with adults.
Recommended Citation
Becker, Rebekah L., "Measuring negative thinking in adults" (2016). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1895.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1895
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/9019s500n