Description

The Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Adults (PSWQ-A) is a tool developed to measure general worry in adults. The scale assesses the intensity and frequency of worry experienced by individuals, providing an estimate of excessive or uncontrollable worry. The PSWQ-A includes 16 items where participants rate how often they experience different forms of worry.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data analysis from the PSWQ-A involves evaluating responses to the 16 items. Each item is typically rated on a Likert scale from 1 (not at all characteristic of me) to 5 (very characteristic of me). Scores for all items are summed to compute a total worry score, which is used to assess the individual’s level of worry.

Psychometric analysis includes measuring the scale’s reliability, such as internal

consistency (e.g., using Cronbach’s alpha), and its validity by comparing it with other anxiety and worry scales. Factor analysis may also be conducted to confirm the scale’s structural dimensions and identify underlying characteristics of worry.

Objective

The primary objective of the PSWQ-A is to provide a reliable method for assessing general worry in adults. The scale helps in diagnosing and monitoring excessive worry, which can impact daily functioning and mental health. It can also guide therapeutic interventions and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for worry.

Calibration

Calibration of the PSWQ-A involves validating the scale through research that examines its reliability and validity. This includes analyzing internal consistency (e.g., using Cronbach’s alpha) and evaluating the scale’s validity by comparing it with other relevant anxiety and worry scales. Calibration may also involve analyzing sensitivity to changes and stability across different populations.

References

Meyer, T. J., Miller, M. L., Metzger, R. L., & Borkovec, T. D. (1990). Development and validation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 28(6), 487-495.

Borkovec, T. D., Ray, W. J., & Stöber, J. (1998). Worry: A cognitive phenomenon intimately linked to affective, physiological, and cognitive changes. In: T. D. Borkovec, R. A. Zvolensky, & W. J. Ray (Eds.), Worry and its psychological disorders (pp. 47-75). Wiley.

Krohne, H. W. (1993). The role of cognitive processes in the regulation of anxiety. In: C. R. Snyder, & J. L. Sullivan (Eds.), Personality and the assessment of anxiety (pp. 39-62). Springer.