Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of Cognitive Style Questionnaire-Short Form Among University Students

The Cognitive Style Questionnaire-Short Form (CSQ-SF) is a self-report measure of negative cognitive style. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the CSQ-SF among Chinese university students.

Following approval of the Chinese translation by an original author, 3525 university students completed the CSQ-SF along with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Anxiety Inventory (SAI), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), and Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). After a 5-week interval, 429 students completed the CSQ-SF twice. Confirmatory factor analysis tested a first-order five-factor model and a second-order single-factor model. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis examined the measurement invariance across gender and time. Internal consistency and convergent validity were assessed.

Both models of the CSQ-SF fit the data well. The first-order model showed measurement invariance across gender and time. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.60-0.92, McDonald's omega: 0.61-0.92, mean inter-item correlations: 0.15-0.41, split-half reliability: 0.58-0.83) and test-retest reliability (0.59-0.91) were acceptable The scores of CSQ-SF and its factors had significantly positive correlations with scores of CES-D, SAI, DAS and RRS (ps < 0.001).

The Chinese version of CSQ-SF demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and can be used to assess cognitive vulnerability in Chinese-speaking university individuals.