Objective: The Children’s Negative Cognitive Errors Questionnaire (CNCEQ) is a self-report scale measuring negative cognitive errors in children. The aim of this study was to examine its reliability and validity, and to obtain its norms for Turkish children.

Method: The study was carried out at 3 public schools representing 3 different socioeconomic statuses. The sample of 538 children was selected randomly among third-eighth grade elementary school students. The students were evaluated by the CNCEQ, Children Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI). For test-retest reliability, the CNCEQ was readministered to the students 7 days after its first administration.

Results: In the reliability analysis, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.82 and 0.79. Test-retest reliability of the total score was 0.87. In comparing the CNCEQ to CDI, SAIC, TAIC, and SEI, correlations were r = 0.77, r = 0.57, r = 0.50, and r = ­–0.65, respectively (P < 0.001). Construct validity factors had eiganvalues > 1. These factors were related to catastrophizing, personalizing, and selective abstraction.

Conclusion: The Turkish version of the CNCEQ has appropriate reliability and validity for assessing negative cognitive errors in Turkish children; however, additional reliability and validity studies should include patient groups with specific disorders.