The psychometric evaluation of the Hungarian version of the Existential Concerns Questionnaire
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17627/ALKPSZICH.2025.3.43Keywords:
existential anxiety, ECQ, death anxiety, meaninglessness, guilt, isolation, identityAbstract
Background and aims: Existential anxiety is a complex psychological construct encompassing concerns related to fundamental questions of existence, including death, the meaning of life, identity, isolation, and guilt. Currently, there is no psychometrically reliable and valid Hungarian-language instrument that comprehensively measures these dimensions. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Hungarian adaptation of the Existential Concerns Questionnaire (ECQ; in Hungarian: Egzisztenciális Aggodalmak Kérdőív) on a sample of healthy adults.
Methods:The sample consisted of 332 healthy adults (217 women, 114 men, 1 other) with a mean age of 41.51 years. Participants completed the Hungarian version of ECQ, as well as other questionnaires measuring related constructs. Data analyses included confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency indices (Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega), and correlational analyses.
Results: The factor models identified in the original validation study showed inadequate fit in the current sample. The internal consistency of the model was satisfactory (α > 0,75; ω > 0,75). Construct validity was supported, as the questionnaire showed significant correlations with the theoretically related constructs, in the expected directions and magnitudes.
Discussion: The Hungarian version of the ECQ appears to be a promising tool for assessing existential concerns; however, further research is needed to confirm its structural validity.
