Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30)
30 items on beliefs about thinking — worry, cognitive confidence, and thought control
Do you ever worry about worrying? The MCQ-30 measures metacognitive beliefs — the assumptions you hold about your own thinking and the role of worry. 30 items, about 8 minutes. Not a diagnostic instrument.
What the MCQ-30 Measures
The Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) captures beliefs people hold about their own thinking. It is not about what you think — it is about how you relate to your thoughts, especially worry.
Five dimensions:
- Cognitive Confidence — Do you trust your memory and judgment? Items tap doubt about your own cognitive abilities.
- Positive Beliefs about Worry — Do you believe worrying is useful? "Worrying helps me cope" is the kind of belief this picks up.
- Cognitive Self-Consciousness — How much do you monitor your own thinking? High scorers are constantly checking their mental processes.
- Uncontrollability & Danger — Do you believe worry is dangerous and uncontrollable? "I cannot stop worrying" is the core here.
- Need to Control Thoughts — Do you feel you must control your thoughts at all times? Related to thought suppression and rumination.
Where It Comes From
Adrian Wells and Samantha Cartwright-Hatton developed the MCQ-30 in 2004 as a shorter version of the original 65-item MCQ. It comes from Wells' metacognitive model of emotional disorder, which argues that psychological distress is not caused by negative thoughts themselves, but by the metacognitive beliefs people hold about those thoughts.
Psychometric Snapshot
- Internal consistency: α = 0.72–0.93 across subscales
- Test–retest reliability: r = 0.59–0.87 (22–28 days)
- Well-validated in clinical (GAD, OCD, depression) and non-clinical samples
Scoring
Each item rated 1 (Do not agree) to 4 (Agree very much). Subscale scores range 6–24. Higher scores indicate stronger metacognitive beliefs. There are no clinical cutoffs — the MCQ-30 is a continuous measure, not a screening tool.
Scales That Pair With It
The MCQ-30 pairs naturally with the PSWQ (trait worry) and GAD-7 (anxiety symptoms). While GAD-7 asks about recent symptom frequency, the MCQ-30 digs into the metacognitive architecture that keeps worry going.
Scoring Guide
MCQ-30 has 30 items rated 1-4. Five subscales (6 items each): CC = Cognitive Confidence (items 1-6), PB = Positive Beliefs about Worry (7-12), CSC = Cognitive Self-Consciousness (13-18), UD = Uncontrollability & Danger (19-24), NC = Need to Control Thoughts (25-30). No reverse-scored items. Higher scores = stronger metacognitive beliefs. Not a diagnostic instrument.Result Interpretation
After completing the 30 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.