A taxometric investigation of the latent structure of worry.
Abstract
Researchers have described 2 types of worriers, normal and pathological, who differ in the frequency, intensity, and controllability of their worry experiences. Although normal and pathological worry are generally treated as separate though related phenomena, no study has tested for separateness against the alternative hypothesis that all worry exists along a single dimension. In the present study, worry ratings of 1,588 college students were submitted to taxometric procedures designed to evaluate latent structure. Results provided evidence for the dimensionality of worry. These findings suggest that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), whose central feature is worry, may also be quantitatively rather than qualitatively different from normal functioning. The authors argue that a focus on normal and pathological extremes has constrained the study of worry phenomena and that dimensional conceptualization of worry may significantly enhance understanding of both worry and GAD.
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Studies show a continuum of worry when groups with different degrees of mental disorder are examined.
“Ruscio et al. [2001] konnten zeigen, dass sich ein Kontinuum der Sorgen ergibt, wenn psychisch unterschiedlich stark gestörte Gruppen untersucht werden.”
From Wann sind Sorgen pathologisch? (2009) · cites this paper as Ruscio et al. [2001]
The Penn State Worry Questionnaire cannot satisfactorily distinguish clinical from everyday worries.
“zwischen klinischen und alltäglichen Sorgen vermag das Verfahren nicht befriedigend zu trennen [Ruscio et al., 2001;Verkuil et al., 2007].”
From Wann sind Sorgen pathologisch? (2009) · cites this paper as Ruscio et al., 2001
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- Authors
- Ruscio, A. M., Borkovec, T. D., & Ruscio, J.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Elizabethtown College (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology
- Published
- 2001-08
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 413-422
- ISSN
- 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1846
- OpenAlex
- W2108234210
- Cited by
- 231
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 11.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH-12675-01, MH-58593, R01MH058593, F31MH012675)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- worry, generalized anxiety disorder, taxometric analysis, latent structure, university students
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Population Surveillance, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychopathology
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