To develop a Negative Cognitive Processing Bias Scale for Adolescents and examine its reliability and validity, and apply it to explore the status quo of negative cognitive processing bias in adolescents.

Based on Negative Cognitive Processing Bias Questionnaire for Adults, a theoretical model was constructed according to the results of literature analysis and expert interviews, and then a Negative Cognitive Processing Bias Scale suitable for adolescents was developed with reference to the opinions of primary and secondary school teachers. A total of 5 794 adolescents were subjected and randomly allocated into Sample 1 (n=2 897) and Sample 2 (n=2 897). The data in Sample 1 were analyzed by item analysis and exploratory factor analysis, and the data of Sample 2 were analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis. Finally, the overall data of 5 794 participants were used to test the reliability of the scale. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the negative cognitive processing bias of the participants.

① Our developed scale had 14 items and mainly 3 factors, that is, negative attention bias, negative memory bias and negative interpretation bias. ② The 3-factor model was fit for the data well (RMSEA=0.052, SRMR=0.028, CFI=0.957, TLI=0.947). The Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.883, the McDonald's ω coefficient was 0.884, the split half reliability coefficient was 0.849, and the criterion validity with the score of Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) was 0.494 (P < 0.01). The dimension scores were positively correlated with total score of the scale (r=0.707~0.941, P < 0.01). ③ The negative cognitive processing bias of adolescents was quite higher, and there were significant difference in demographic variables.

Our developed Negative Cognitive Processing Bias Scale for Adolescents has good validity and reliability, and can be used for measuring negative cognitive processing bias in adolescents.