Internal Structure and Clinical Utility of the Anxiety Control Questionnaire-Revised (ACQ-R) Spanish Version

Abstract

Perceived control has shown predictive value for anxiety severity symptoms as well as cognitive-behavior therapy outcomes. The most commonly used measure of perceived control is the Anxiety Control Questionnaire (ACQ), and more recently the ACQ Revised (ACQ-R). However, both questionnaires have shown structural inconsistencies among several studies. Also, although the ACQ and ACQ-R seem to be multidimensional instruments, a single total score have been commonly used. This study examined the internal structure of the ACQ-R Spanish version using exploratory factor and exploratory bi-factor analysis in a sample of 382 college students and 52 people diagnosed of panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia). Also, in this study we assessed the preliminary diagnostic value of the ACQ-R scores. The results indicated that the ACQ-R Spanish version structure consisted of two factors: one related with perceived control of internal emotional reactions (Emotion Control) and another related with perceived control of external events (Threat and Stress Control). Both specific factors can be adequately summarized by a general factor (General Anxiety Perception of Control; CFI = .973, TLI = .954, RMSEA = .039; p = .002), which accounted for 70% of the common explained variance. The correlations between the ACQ-R scores and with variables like anxiety (r = -.66) or anxiety sensitivity (r = -.50) presented the expected pattern of results. Either the two dimensions structure or the total score have proved to be a good tool to distinguish between participants with panic disorder and non-clinical samples (area under the curve = 0.79).

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“…The Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) [ 32 , 33 ] is administered to evaluate positive and negative affect. The perception of control over anxiety is assessed by means of the Anxiety Control Questionnaire-Revised (ACQ-R) [ 34 , 35 ]. Personality is measured with the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) [ 36 ], which offers a rapid and general measure of the Big Five personality traits: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.…”

ReWIND: A CBT-Based Serious Game to Improve Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Anxiety Disorder

“…Each item is measured on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), and the final score is obtained by summing the scores for both subscales. Following the state-of-the-art [56], the scale was used as a single measure regardless the existence of two possible factors in the scale: perceived control over internal emotional reactions and perceived control over external events.…”

Perinatal mental e‐health: What is the profile of pregnant women interested in online assessment of their emotional state?

“…Revised Anxiety Control Questionnaire Spanish validation by Osma, Barrada, et al (2016) Beliefs related to one's perception of anxiety control.…”