[The reliability and validity of Turkish Brief Measure of Worry Severity based on Turkish university students].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine reliability and validity of the Turkish Brief Measure of Worry Severity (BMWS) for assessing the level of dysfunctional worry.

METHOD: The study sample consisted of two different student groups from various faculties of Hacettepe University (age range: 17-25 years). First, data were collected from the group, composed of 210 female and 170 male students to evaluate the scale's test re-test correlation, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and criterion and convergent validity. Next, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to the other group, composed of 805 students to assess distinctive validity of the Turkish BMWS. Students that scored over a quarter on median of BDI were regarded as having severe depression symptoms and the students that scored > 26% on BAI were regarded as having severe anxiety symptoms. In this manner anxiety (12 male, 38 female) and depression groups (4 male, 10 female) were formed.

RESULTS: Following a series of analyses, test-retest correlation (r = 0.76) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.88) of the Turkish BMWS was determined to be statistically high. While the Turkish BMWS showed unifactorial construct, the scores of the scale differentiated between the depression group and the anxiety group (depression group: X = 8.14, SS = 4.03; anxiety group: X = 11.56, SS = 5.11). Furthermore, the Turkish BMWS's correlations with the Name Penn State Worry Questionnaire (r = 0.75) and Trait State Anxiety Inventory (State Anxiety Inventory: r= 0.42; Trait Anxiety Inventory r = 0.72) were statistically significant and supported the scale's construct validity.

CONCLUSION: The results show that the Turkish BMWS is a reliable and valid scale for use with Turkish university students.