Eine überprüfung der konstruktvalidität des Fragebogens irrationaler Einstellungen (FIE)

The evaluation of the scientific status of vulnerability-stress models of different cognitive therapy approaches as well as therapy outcome and process research require the valid measurement of the underlying cognitive constructs. Previous research on the assessment of these constructs usually led to negative conclusions regarding the discriminant validity of self-report measures. In the present study an attempt is made to evaluate a German questionnaire for the assessment of irrational beliefs, the "Fragebogen irrationaler Einstellungen" (FIE), in this respect the FIE was given to a nonclinical sample along with measures of dysfunctional attitudes, state-trait anxiety, and social anxiety. Several models with different factor structures were postulated to account for scale covariances. These Models were evaluated and compared using confirmatory factor analysis. Although superior fit of a single factor model was not found, results show high intercorrelations of all measures employed, indicating a lack of discriminant validity. The implications of these results for the assessment of cognitive vulnerability are discussed.