Thought control strategies and trait anxiety: predictors of pathological worry in non-clinical sample

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship of trait anxiety and thought control strategies with pathological worry. Participants of this research were 146 college students of Allameh Tabatabaei University who were selected via a random multistage cluster sampling method. The subjects completed three questionnaires: Thought control strategies, Penn-State Worry Questionnaire and Trait form of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis There is a significant positive correlation between self-punishment, social control and pathological worry. There is a significant negative correlation between distraction and pathological worry. There is a significant positive correlation between trait anxiety and worrying. Trait anxiety, self-punishment, social control and distraction accounted 45% of the total variance of the pathological worry. Trait anxiety can predict pathological worry better than thought control strategies.