Assessment of Hierarchical Factor Structure, Reliability and Validity of Penn State Worry Questionnaire Turkish Version

Abstract

Objective: Excessive, pervasive, and uncontrollable worry are included in the diagnostic criteria of generalized anxiety disorder. Pathological worry is thought to be the cognitive component of anxiety and to be used as a moladaptive defense mechanism However, negative outcomes of pervasive and uncontrollable worry are not restricted to anxiety disorders alone, A growing number of studies point out that pathological worry is associated with panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, sleep disorders and psychotic disorders, Also pervasive and uncontrollable worry is significantly correlated with medical problems such as heart diseases, diabetes and cancer. In order to assess levels of worry several instruments were developed; for example The Worry Domains Questionnaire (Tallis et at 19921, The Anxious Thoughts Inventory (Wells 1994), The Meta Worry Questionnaire (Wells 1995), The Meta Cognitions Questionnaire -30 (Wells, Cartwright-Hatton, 2004). However, Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) is the most commonly utilized measure on assessing pathological worry, This self-report measure has been translated into many languages. The measure has shown excellent psychometric properties in studies among non-clinical and clinical populations. The aim of this study was to translate the instrument into Turkish and to assess the factor structure of the instrument in a Turkish sample. Method: Sample of the study comprised of 651 undergraduates of the Yuzuncu Yil University. Factor structures were obtained by using principal components analysis The Penn State Worry Scale, The Beck Depression Inventory, The Beck Anxiety Inventory, The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and General Self Efficacy Scale were administered. Model fitness of the factor structure was evaluated by using structural equation technique The Schmid-Leimon transformation was performed to provide higher order factor loadings. PSWQ total and sub-scale scores were correlated with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in order to assess convergent validity of the measure, Comparisons between correlations were carried out using the Z test. Results: Convergent validity between PSWQ total scores and other psychological variables was compatible with previous studies. Correlation between PSWQ total scores and Beck Depression Inventory was r = 0.45. PSWQ significantly correlated with Beck Anxiety Inventory r = 0.46. Correlation between PSWQ and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale was r = -0.36. Inner consistency of the measure was 0.88. It was found that PSWQ consisted of General Worry, Excessive/Uncontrollable Worry, and Absence of Worry factors, a three factor hierarchical structure. Discussion: PSWQ is a valid and reliable measure in assessing pathological worry in a Turkish sample. Results have shown that factor structure of the measure obtained in a Turkish sample is consistent with international samples Translation of the measure into Turkish may contribute to assessing possible outcomes of pathological worry, which is thought to play an important role in the onset of psychopathology, among Turkish sample.