Development and preliminary validation of the Meta-cognitions Questionnaire—Adolescent Version Sam Cartwright-Hatton a,* , Alison Mather b , Vicky Illingworth c , Jo Brocki c , Richard Harrington a , Adrian Wells b a Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Manchester, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA, UK b Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA, UK c Department of Psychology, University of Manchester, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA, UK Received 29 August 2002; received in revised form 29 October 2002; accepted 18 November 2002 Abstract This study describes the development of the Meta-cognitions Questionnaire for Adoles- cents (MCQ-A). The adult version of this questionnaire has been widely used, and the meta- cognitive theory of emotional disorders has become influential in the adult literature. This study sought to examine the prevalence and emotional correlates of meta-cognition in adolescents. The MCQ-A was administered to 177 schoolchildren aged 13 through 17 years, together with measures of emotional well-being. Factor analysis suggested a five-factor solution similar to that reported for the adult version. Internal consistency of the scale was high. Scores ranged from low to high across the age range, suggesting that meta-cognitive beliefs are well-established by adolescence. Scores on the MCQ-A were highly correlated with a number of measures of emotional symptoms. The MCQ-A is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring meta-cognitive beliefs in adolescents. Young people aged between 13 and 17 years report a range of types and levels of meta-cognitive beliefs and these are positively associated with emotional symptoms. # 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Meta-cognition; Cognition; Adolescence; Anxiety; Depression Anxiety Disorders 18 (2004) 411–422 * Corresponding author. E-mail address: sam.cartwright-hatton@man.ac.uk (S. Cartwright-Hatton). 0887-6185/$ – see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0887-6185(02)00294-3