TY - JOUR
T1 - A psychometric evaluation of the Thought Control Ability Questionnaire (TCAQ) and the prediction of cognitive control
AU - Williams, Alishia D.
AU - Moulds, Michelle L.
AU - Grisham, Jessica R.
AU - Gay, Philippe
AU - Lang, Tamara
AU - Kandris, Eva
AU - Werner-Seidler, Aliza
AU - Yap, Carol
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Study 1 evaluated the psychometric properties of the English version of the Thought Control Ability Questionnaire (TCAQ; Luciano et al. 2005), an index of perceived control over intrusive cognitions. Confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of 720 University students revealed a clear uni-dimensional structure (after removal of items 5, 7, 8, 14, and 25) with high internal consistency (α = .87, 95% CI = [.86, .88]) and test-retest reliability after a six month interval (r = .68). Correlational analyses supported an inverse relationship with measures of depression, anxiety, maladaptive cognitive control strategies, and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. Study 2 tested the ability of the TCAQ to predict successful cognitive control during an experimental suppression protocol. Results demonstrated that weak thought control ability was predictive of the frequency and associated levels of distress of a target thought while under instruction to suppress. Additionally, weak perceived thought control ability was predictive of increased efforts to suppress the target material. Collectively, results suggest that thought control ability is a measurable individual difference variable and that the TCAQ is a reliable index of perceived cognitive control.
AB - Study 1 evaluated the psychometric properties of the English version of the Thought Control Ability Questionnaire (TCAQ; Luciano et al. 2005), an index of perceived control over intrusive cognitions. Confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of 720 University students revealed a clear uni-dimensional structure (after removal of items 5, 7, 8, 14, and 25) with high internal consistency (α = .87, 95% CI = [.86, .88]) and test-retest reliability after a six month interval (r = .68). Correlational analyses supported an inverse relationship with measures of depression, anxiety, maladaptive cognitive control strategies, and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. Study 2 tested the ability of the TCAQ to predict successful cognitive control during an experimental suppression protocol. Results demonstrated that weak thought control ability was predictive of the frequency and associated levels of distress of a target thought while under instruction to suppress. Additionally, weak perceived thought control ability was predictive of increased efforts to suppress the target material. Collectively, results suggest that thought control ability is a measurable individual difference variable and that the TCAQ is a reliable index of perceived cognitive control.
KW - Intrusive thoughts
KW - Mental control
KW - Thought control ability
KW - Thought suppression
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956062360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10862-009-9171-z
DO - 10.1007/s10862-009-9171-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77956062360
SN - 0882-2689
VL - 32
SP - 397
EP - 405
JO - Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
JF - Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
IS - 3
ER -