STRUCTURED VERSUS FREE-RECALL MEASURES - EFFECT ON REPORT OF WORRY THEMES

Over the past decade, researchers have attempted to measure worry them es. Some have used free-recall measures (e.g., Craske, Rapee, Jackel & Barlow, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 27, 397-402, 1989) whereas ot hers have constructed structured questionnaires (e.g. Tallis, Eysenck & Mathews, Personality and Individual Differences, 13, 161-168, 1992). This study investigates worry themes in a sample of university studen ts using a free-recall measure (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionn aire-Modified) and a structured questionnaire (Worry Domains Questionn aire). Overall, results show that worries were closely related to situ ational characteristics, as worries about studies, finances, work and intimate relationships were most frequent. Comparison of both measures reveals that major worry themes were ranked similarly but correlation s between reported themes were weak. Further, stability of number of w orries and specific worry themes was moderately to highly stable over a 4 week test-retest period. The advantages and disadvantages of both types of instruments are discussed and the authors suggest that popula tion-specific structured instruments (using free-recall measures to de velop them) would be advantageous for researchers and clinicians alike .