Validity and Reliability of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) among Chinese Adolescents

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) in a sample of Chinese adolescents (1382 boys, 1445 girls) aged 11 to 18 years. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess factor structure, as well as, measurement invariance across demographic groups and clinical symptoms. The results of confirmatory factor analyses supported the original five-factor model. Configural, metric and scalar invariance of the five-factor model were also supported by gender, age, ethnicity, residence, parental education level, depression and anxiety status. Furthermore, all five subscales demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach alphas > 0.75) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients > 0.45). Finally, the five factors were positively related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability and negatively related to positive childhood experiences and life satisfaction, indicating excellent validity. The findings provide initial evidence that the MCQ-30 is a valid measure for use in Chinese adolescents.