Worry: Problem-Solving Orientation and Uncontrollability

Abstract

Worry has 2 contrasting features: one representing a controlled problem-solving process and the other representing an uncontrollable process. The present study used causal modeling to investigate the relation between these 2 features. A questionnaire measuring features of the worry process was completed by 359 college students. On the one hand, the problem-solving orientation of worry reduced its uncontrollability directly, while, on the other hand, enhancing it indirectly through dissatisfaction with the problem solution. As a result of the double-sided effect of the problem-solving orientation of worry on its uncontrollability, the simple correlation between these two variables was nearly zero. Causal modeling further revealed effects of personality traits on the worry process. The active problem-solving style predicted the problem-solving orientation of worry. Concern over mistakes and poor problem-solving confidence predicted dissatisfaction with the problem solution. A model consisting of variables related to problem-solving explained 31% of the variance of the uncontrollability of worry, which suggests that both theoretical accounts and clinical interventions based on the problem-solving model would be promising.