title: Development and preliminary validation of the Meta-cognitions Questionnaire-Adolescent Version.
abstract: This study describes the development of the Meta-cognitions Questionnaire for Adolescents (MCQ-A). The adult version of this questionnaire has been widely used, and the meta-cognitive theory of emotional disorders has become influential in the adult literature. This study sought to examine the prevalence and emotional correlates of meta-cognition in adolescents. The MCQ-A was administered to 177 schoolchildren aged 13 through 17 years, together with measures of emotional well-being. Factor analysis suggested a five-factor solution similar to that reported for the adult version. Internal consistency of the scale was high. Scores ranged from low to high across the age range, suggesting that meta-cognitive beliefs are well-established by adolescence. Scores on the MCQ-A were highly correlated with a number of measures of emotional symptoms. The MCQ-A is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring meta-cognitive beliefs in adolescents. Young people aged between 13 and 17 years report a range of types and levels of meta-cognitive beliefs and these are positively associated with emotional symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA, UK. sam.cartwright-hatton@man.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cartwright-Hatton
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mather
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Illingworth
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brocki
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires