Year

2012

Season

Summer

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Arts in General Psychology (MAGP)

Department

Psychology

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. Department of Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Brian Fisak

Second Advisor

Dr. Ashley Allen

Department Chair

Dr. Michael Toglia

College Dean

Dr. Barbara A. Hetrick

Abstract

The mood-as-input model of perseverative worrying is a conceptual model that has been developed to explain the perseverative aspect of worry inherent in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (Davey, 2006a). The first objective of this study was to provide additional empirical support for the mood-as-input model of perseverative worrying. A second objective of this study was to investigate the association between perseverative worry and GAD symptoms. The final objective of this study was to assist in generating a comprehensive model of worry that incorporated unique predictors of GAD. Results indicated that unique variables, such as ‘as many as can’ stop rules and beliefs about worry, were weak predictors of perseveration, but were significant predictors of worry and GAD symptoms. Therefore, these variables may still contribute to the processes inherent in perseverative worry. Results also indicated that the catastrophic interview was an overall weak predictor of worry and GAD symptoms, suggesting that the catastrophic interview might not be the most suitable measure of perseverative worry. In summary, the current study provides mixed support for the mood-as-input model of perseverative worrying. Future research should further examine the relationship of the catastrophic interview and perseverative worry. In addition, future studies should include measures of GAD symptoms as an outcome variable when studying the mood-as-input model. Keywords: worry, GAD, catastrophic interview, meta-cognition, stop rules

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