Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).

Epistemic trust, defined as trust in socially transmitted knowledge, is discussed as a psychopathological factor in the context of new transdiagnostic approaches for the assessment of mental disorders. The aim of this study is to test the factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity of the Germa...

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Main Authors: Anna-Maria Weiland, Svenja Taubner, Max Zettl, Leonie C Bartmann, Nina Frohn, Mirijam Luginsland, Jana Volkert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312995
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author Anna-Maria Weiland
Svenja Taubner
Max Zettl
Leonie C Bartmann
Nina Frohn
Mirijam Luginsland
Jana Volkert
author_facet Anna-Maria Weiland
Svenja Taubner
Max Zettl
Leonie C Bartmann
Nina Frohn
Mirijam Luginsland
Jana Volkert
author_sort Anna-Maria Weiland
collection DOAJ
description Epistemic trust, defined as trust in socially transmitted knowledge, is discussed as a psychopathological factor in the context of new transdiagnostic approaches for the assessment of mental disorders. The aim of this study is to test the factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity of the German version of the new Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ). Data were collected cross-sectionally from the German-speaking general population (N = 584) and in a second sample of clinical (n = 30) and non-clinical (n = 30) participants. The previously proposed three-factor structure of the ETMCQ was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The ETMCQ's ability to differentiate between clinical and non-clinical participants was tested with t-tests. Correlations with early childhood trauma, maladaptive personality traits, and impairments in personality functioning were examined. The relationship between epistemic trust and mentalization was analyzed in a structural equation model. Regarding the factorial validity, the model fit of the originally proposed ETMCQ proved to be insufficient. The model fit to the data was good for a shortened 12-item version. The study was unable to identify any significant differences between clinical and non-clinical participants. For mistrust and credulity, correlations with associated constructs supported their construct validity. However, the results for the trust subscale were heterogeneous. The study offers initial empirical support for a revised 12-item self-report measure of epistemic trust and for the link between mistrust and credulity with markers of psychopathology. Further investigation of the ETMCQ and its psychometric properties, as well as research on integration of epistemic trust into new, transdiagnostic approaches to psychopathology is needed.
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spelling doaj-art-f48a0e4421f248b4a69e219ec209b9752024-11-19T05:31:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011911e031299510.1371/journal.pone.0312995Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).Anna-Maria WeilandSvenja TaubnerMax ZettlLeonie C BartmannNina FrohnMirijam LuginslandJana VolkertEpistemic trust, defined as trust in socially transmitted knowledge, is discussed as a psychopathological factor in the context of new transdiagnostic approaches for the assessment of mental disorders. The aim of this study is to test the factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity of the German version of the new Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ). Data were collected cross-sectionally from the German-speaking general population (N = 584) and in a second sample of clinical (n = 30) and non-clinical (n = 30) participants. The previously proposed three-factor structure of the ETMCQ was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The ETMCQ's ability to differentiate between clinical and non-clinical participants was tested with t-tests. Correlations with early childhood trauma, maladaptive personality traits, and impairments in personality functioning were examined. The relationship between epistemic trust and mentalization was analyzed in a structural equation model. Regarding the factorial validity, the model fit of the originally proposed ETMCQ proved to be insufficient. The model fit to the data was good for a shortened 12-item version. The study was unable to identify any significant differences between clinical and non-clinical participants. For mistrust and credulity, correlations with associated constructs supported their construct validity. However, the results for the trust subscale were heterogeneous. The study offers initial empirical support for a revised 12-item self-report measure of epistemic trust and for the link between mistrust and credulity with markers of psychopathology. Further investigation of the ETMCQ and its psychometric properties, as well as research on integration of epistemic trust into new, transdiagnostic approaches to psychopathology is needed.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312995
spellingShingle Anna-Maria Weiland
Svenja Taubner
Max Zettl
Leonie C Bartmann
Nina Frohn
Mirijam Luginsland
Jana Volkert
Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
PLoS ONE
title Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
title_full Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
title_fullStr Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
title_full_unstemmed Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
title_short Epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology: Validation of the German version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity-Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
title_sort epistemic trust and associations with psychopathology validation of the german version of the epistemic trust mistrust and credulity questionnaire etmcq
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0312995
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