Measuring decentering in self-reports: Psychometric properties of the Experiences Questionnaire in a German sample
Abstract
Decentering is described as referring to one's current mental experiences from an objective perspective. This study presents a psychometric evaluation of a German version of the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ-D), a self-report instrument designed to measure decentering. Confirmatory factor analysis on a sample of 506 university students indicates acceptable-to-good model fit (χ(2)=58.3; TLI=.92; CFI=.95; RMSEA=.067) for a second-order factor Overall Decentering comprising the two first-order factors Accepting Self-Perception and Distanced Perspective. Preliminary evidence for the validity of the EQ-D was demonstrated via negative correlations with measures of depression and depressive rumination. The present results stress the multidimensional nature of decentering and provide important suggestions for future research on how to investigate and operationalize the decentering construct.
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The German version of the EQ failed to confirm the original one-factor structure and revealed a two-dimensional second-order structure with two first-order factors, accepting self-perception and distant perspective.
“The German version failed to confirm the original one-factor structure and revealed a two-dimensional second-order structure with two first-order factors, accepting self-perception and distant perspective.”
From Measuring Decentering – Development and Validation of the French Version of the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ-F) (2024) · cites this paper as Gecht et al., 2014
Similar factors have been reported within the Self-As-Context Scale (SACS) and EQ.
“Similar factors have been reported within the Self-As-Context Scale (SACS) and EQ32,33.”
From Decentering as a core component in the psychological treatment and prevention of youth anxiety and depression: a narrative review and insight report (2021) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Gecht, J., Kessel, R., Mainz, V., Gauggel, S., Drueke, B., Scherer, A., & Forkmann, T.
- Affiliations
- RWTH Aachen University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Gecht, Judith
- Venue
- Psychotherapy Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-08-19
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 67-79
- ISSN
- 1050-3307 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-4381
- OpenAlex
- W1984163477
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 2.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychotherapy Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- decentering, self-report measures, psychometric properties, German adaptation, factor structure, second-order factors, depression, depressive rumination, university students
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cognition, Depression, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Young Adult, Self Report
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