Psychometric Evaluation of a Dutch Attribution Questionnaire for Trauma-Related Attributions (PEDAQTRA)

A newly developed Dutch-language questionnaire was designed to assess trauma-related attributional styles across four theoretically derived dimensions: locus of causality, controllability, stability, and globality. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of the instrument in both a non-clinical student sample and a clinical sample receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment for trauma-related disorders. Analyses will include internal consistency, factor structure, item performance, and construct validity through associations with PTSD symptoms and trauma-related cognitions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: PTSD

Detailed Description

This study investigates the psychometric properties of a newly developed Dutch attribution questionnaire specifically designed to assess trauma-related attributional styles. The instrument includes 32 dichotomously scored items divided across general and personal attributional perspectives, each covering four attribution dimensions: locus of causality, controllability, stability, and globality.

Two samples were included: (1) a non-clinical sample of first-year psychology students from Radboud University (N = 418 in Part I; N = 382 in Part II), and (2) a clinical sample of individuals receiving inpatient or outpatient mental healthcare for trauma-related conditions at the Psychotraumacentrum Zuid-Nederland (PTC ZN; N = 112). All participants provided informed consent, and the study was approved by the relevant institutional ethics committee.

Participants completed the new questionnaire along with established measures of PTSD symptoms (PCL-5), trauma-related cognitions (PTCI), and general locus of control (IE-18; non-clinical sample only). Data were collected via secure online platforms. Analyses will include descriptive statistics, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, item response theory modelling, and correlation analyses to assess construct, convergent, and divergent validity. Group comparisons (clinical vs. non-clinical) and within-subject contrasts between general and personal attribution perspectives will be conducted using t-tests, MANOVAs, repeated measures ANOVAs, and regression models. Moderation and mediation analyses will examine the role of perspective contrast in predicting PTSD severity.

The study is guided by the following a priori hypotheses:

• The questionnaire will demonstrate a clear and theoretically consistent factor structure reflecting the attribution dimensions of locus of causality, controllability, stability, and globality.
• The total scale and subscales will show adequate internal consistency, with Cronbach's α values of at least .70.
• Higher levels of maladaptive attributional patterns will be positively associated with PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5) and negative trauma-related cognitions (PTCI).
• Personal attribution items will show stronger associations with psychopathology than general attribution items, reflecting the heightened impact of self-referential cognitive biases.
• Clinical participants with trauma-related disorders will score higher on maladaptive attribution patterns than non-clinical students, indicating the instrument's sensitivity to trauma-related cognitive profiles.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 530

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • North Brabant
    • 's-Hertogenbosch, North Brabant, Netherlands, 5211LJ
      • Reinier van Arkel, Psychotraumacentrum Zuid-Nederland

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

• Non-clinical sample: first-year psychology students
• Clinical sample: individuals receiving outpatient trauma treatment at PTC ZN

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥ 18
• Sufficient proficiency in Dutch
• For clinical sample: history of traumatic exposure and current trauma-related symptoms
• For non-clinical sample: enrollment as first-year psychology student at Radboud University

Exclusion Criteria

• Incomplete questionnaire data
• Cognitive impairment preventing informed consent or questionnaire completion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Non-clinical sample; First-year psychology students - Clinical sample: individuals receiving outpa
Clinical sample; Individuals receiving outpatient trauma treatment at PTC ZN

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
1. Change in Maladaptive Attributional Style (Dutch Attribution Questionnaire for Trauma-Related Attributions)	The Dutch Attribution Questionnaire for Trauma-Related Attributions is a 32-item self-report instrument assessing attributional patterns across four dimensions (locus of causality, controllability, stability, globality) from both general and personal perspectives. Items are scored dichotomously (0 = disagreement; 1 = agreement), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 32. Higher scores indicate stronger maladaptive attributional patterns. Change from baseline to the specified follow-up point will be calculated.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
2. Change in PTSD Symptom Severity (PCL-5)	The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report measure assessing PTSD symptom severity over the past month. Total scores range from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. Change from baseline to follow-up will be calculated.	Baseline
3. Change in Trauma-Related Cognitions (PTCI)	The Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) assesses negative trauma-related cognitions about the self, the world, and self-blame. Total scores range from 33 to 231, with higher scores indicating more negative cognitions. Change from baseline to follow-up will be calculated.	Baseline

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
4. Change in General Locus of Control (IE-18)	The IE-18 is a shortened version of the Internal-External Control Scale, measuring general locus of control. Scores range from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating a more external locus of control. This measure is administered only in the non-clinical sample. Change from baseline to follow-up will be assessed.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Reinier van Arkel

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 21, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PTSD; Self-report questionnaire; Attributions
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: ESCW-2023-062R1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: The individual participant data (IPD) collected in this study will not be shared. The dataset contains sensitive clinical information related to trauma exposure and trauma-related symptoms, and full de-identification cannot be guaranteed without compromising data integrity. Sharing such data may pose privacy risks to participants, particularly those in the clinical sample receiving specialized trauma treatment.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No