Frontiers in Psychology (Dec 2020)

Negative Problems Orientation Questionnaire for Chinese Adolescents: Bifactor Model and Measurement Invariance

  • Huiwen Xiao,
  • Rongmao Lin,
  • Qiaoling Wu,
  • Saili Shen,
  • Saili Shen,
  • Youwei Yan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.608676
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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The Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire (NPOQ) is a widely used tool for assessing negative problem orientation (NPO). However, its construct and measurement invariance has not been adequately tested in adolescents. The present study explored the possible construct of the NPOQ and its measurement invariance in a sample of 754 Chinese adolescents (51.6% girls, all 12–18 years old). The results supported a bifactor model of the NPOQ that consists of a general factor NPO and three domain-specific factors including perceived threat, self-inefficacy, and negative outcome expectancy. A multiple-group CFA indicated that the bifactor model showed strict invariance across gender and age. The general and domain factors showed unique variance in indexes of worry, depression, anxiety, and stress, which supported well incremental validity of them. This study confirms for a bifactor conceptualization of the NPOQ and its measurement invariance across gender and age in Chinese adolescents. Additionally, it is recommended that the total score should be used to assess NPO in Chinese adolescents.

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