Exploring the factor structure of the mood and anxiety symptom questionnaire (MASQ)

Edmund Keogh, John Reidy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

L. A. Clark and Watson (1991) proposed a tripartite model of anxiety and depression defined in terms of common symptoms relating to general distress, anxiety-specific symptoms of hyperarousal, and depression-specific symptoms of low positive affect and loss of interest. To aid the measurement of and discrimination between anxiety and depression they developed the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (MASQ). Although potentially useful, the MASQ is still in an early stage of development, and there is an indication that a discrepancy exists between items and scales. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the items and factors of the MASQ and determine whether a pattern similar to that suggested by L. A. Clark and Watson would emerge. Factor analysis of the MASQ revealed 3 factors relating to general distress, positive affect, and anxious arousal. Inspection of the individual items indicated that some refinements are required.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)106-125
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Personality Assessment
Volume74
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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