Non-Productive Thoughts Questionnaire for Children – NPTQ-C
Measures repetitive negative thinking patterns, specifically worrying and rumination, in children and adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Non-Productive Thoughts Questionnaire for Children – NPTQ-C was developed by Jellesma, F., Meerum Terwogt, M., Reijntjes, A., Rieffe, C., & Stegge, H. (2005). It is designed to measure Worrying and Rumination. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Worrying, Rumination.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Worrying | 1,4,6,8,10 | 5 |
| Rumination | 2,3,5,7,9 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not true, 2 = Sometimes true, 3 = Often true.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 10 to 30. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of non-productive thoughts: 10 – 16
- Moderate level of non-productive thoughts: 17 – 23
- High level of non-productive thoughts: 24 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.