Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention

The Experiences Questionnaire is a 20-item self-report measure targeting specifically decentering, a multifaceted construct involving the ability of viewing the self as separate and different from its own thoughts, the capacity of non-reacting to negative experiences, as well as the ability to be self-compassionate. Respondents are asked to answer, in a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (“Never”) to 5 (“Always”), the extent in which the experiences described in each item are like the ones they recently experienced. Originally fourteen items were generated to measure this ability to sustain a wider perspective on one’s thoughts, feelings and sensations; and additionally, six items were created to assess rumination as a control subscale for response bias. Results of several analyses yielded a final single-factor scale, so the final score for decentering includes items 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20. EQ was found to be reliable and its convergent and discriminant validities were established for both general and clinical samples. The Portuguese version of EQ mirrors the one-dimensional structure found in the original study. The only inconsistency found was the lack of adjustment of item 9, which could be due to translation issues and, thus, future investigation should explore whether the inclusion of a re-written form of item 9 is a better option than its removal. The EQ also revealed to be internally consistent, to have temporal stability across a one-month period and good convergent validity.