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.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/9019s500n

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