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An Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Consequences of Worry Scale (COWS)

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Abstract

Given the role that worry beliefs play in the perseveration of catastrophic worrying, there is a greater clinical need for psychologists to have access to valid measures of worry beliefs. The current study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Consequences of Worry Scale (COWS) and assessed whether worry beliefs predict variables affecting clinical outcome. The sample included 252 undergraduates and 182 community residents self-identified as anxious. The psychometric properties of the scale were generally good although the factor structure did not replicate previous findings. Negative worry beliefs were related in expected directions to a number of measures of psychopathology and significantly predicted increased motivation for change across both samples. Future research should assess this instrument’s psychometrics with a clinical sample. Direct comparisons between the COWS and related indices (e.g., the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire) is also warranted.

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Notes

  1. Descriptive details of the samples are also provided in other published work (Dozois et al., 2004; Dozois and Westra, 2005).

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Correspondence to David J. A. Dozois.

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Covin, R., Dozois, D.J.A. & Westra, H.A. An Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Consequences of Worry Scale (COWS). Cogn Ther Res 32, 133–142 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-007-9134-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-007-9134-1

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