Children’s Thoughts Questionnaire (CTQ)

You are a player on a sports team. You and your teammates are warming up before a big game. Your coach tells you to get ready‚ because you will be one of the starting players.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   What if I mess up?
2)   I like playing sports
3)   I Just know I will play badly
4)   I might do something to look dumb.
5)   I am terrible at sports.
6)   I think I will play a good game.
At dinner one evening‚ your mom tells you that your family will be moving in a month to a different city‚ away from where all your friends live.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   What if nobody there likes me?
2)   It might be exciting to live in a new place
3)   I’ll never be able to find good friends there
4)   I might not fit in at my new school
5)   I will probably meet some nice new friends there
6)   I will be all alone and lonely
Your teacher is passing out an important test in one of your classes‚ The teacher hands you the test and tells everyone to begin.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   I think I will do pretty well
2)   What if I forget what I studied?
3)   I know I will get a bad grade
4)   I might make a dumb mistake
5)   I’m good at this subject
6)   I just know I will fail
You have had headaches‚ a runny nose‚ and a cough for the past month.       You go to the doctor‚ and the doctor tells you that you have allergies.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   Now I am always going to feel sick
2)   I’m glad it wasn’t something worse
3)   I might have to get allergy shots
4)   I am not a healthy person
5)   What If I keep getting sicker?
6)   I’m curious to find out what I’m allergic to
Your mom told you at breakfast this morning that she would pick you up in her car right after school. You have been waiting outside after school for half an hour‚ and she still has not come by to pick you up.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   Maybe something happened to her
2)   I’m glad I get more time to spend with my friends
3)   She doesn’t care about me
4)   What if she forgets to pick me up and I get left here?
5)   She’ll be extra nice to me when she does finally get here
6)   She’s not here because she got hurt in a car accident
At the beginning of gym class today‚ the teacher tells everyone to warm up by running three times around the gym. Just as you finish the second lap‚ you start to breathe hard and can feel your heart beating really fast.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   I am getting some good exercise
2)   Maybe there is something wrong with me
3)   I’ll never be able to run as fast as most kids
4)   What if I get sick?
5)   It must be because I’m running pretty fast
6)   I’m just not very strong
One day you come home from school‚ and when you open the door‚ your pet dog sneaks past you and runs away. You look all over the neighborhood‚ but cannot find the dog anywhere.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   I’ll never be able to get the dog back
2)   I’ll be able to find the dog if I just keep looking
3)   The dog might get hit by a car
4)   I’m no good at taking care of my dog
5)   The dog will come home soon
6)   What if I can’t find my dog?
You are sitting in class‚ and the teacher begins to ask the class questions about some pages out of a book that you had read for homework. You hear the teacher call your name.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   What if I don’t know the answer?
2)   The teacher picked me because I’m a good student
3)   I always end up looking stupid in class
4)   I might say something dumb
5)   I’m glad I’ve been listening and know the answer
6)   I never know the right answer
Your sister is leaving to go to college. You and your family help her pack her things in the car‚ and you wave as she drives off.                        
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   What if something happens to her?
2)   I will be lonely with her gone
3)   Now there will be more space at home for me
4)   She might not like spending time with me anymore
5)   It will be boring at home with her gone
6)   It will be fun to go and Visit her
You overhear some people in your class talking about a big party that one of your class-mates is ha‎ving. You would like to go to the party‚ but you have not yet been invited.
A. How much is each thought like how you would think?
1)   I might not get invited.
2)   Nobody likes me
3)   I’ll have a fun weekend even if I don’t go to the party.
4)   I always get left out
5)   I can’t wait to go to a party
6)   What if all my friends are invited‚ but not me?
 
 
 
 
1= Not at all like I would think‚ 2= A little bit like I would think‚ 3= Somewhat like I would think‚ 4= A lot like I would think‚ 5= Exactly like I would think
 
This instrument can be found at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15374424jccp3304_7 & Fischer‚ Joel.‚ Corcoran‚ Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1‚ Page (s): 486-490.
 

Marien‚ Wendi E. & Bell‚ Debora J. (2004). Anxiety- and Depression-Related Thoughts in Children: Development and Evaluation of a Cognition Measure. journal of clinical child and adolescent‚ 33(4)‚ 717-730.

Marine‚ W. E.‚ and Bell‚ D. J. (2004). Children’s Thoughts Questionnaire (CTQ). In Fischer‚ Joel.‚ Corcoran‚ Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1‚ Page (s): 486-490.

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