READ ME File For 'Data for General and Cyber-Paranoia in Non-clinical Adolescents' Dataset DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/D3696 ReadMe Author: Perena Wasterfall, University of Southampton ORCID ID 0000000260533613 This dataset supports the thesis entitled General and Cyber-Paranoia in Non-clinical Adolescents. AWARDED BY: University of Southampton DATE OF AWARD: 2025 Date of data collection: January 2024 - April 2024 Information about geographic location of data collection: Licence: CC BY Related projects/Funders: Thesis: General and Cyber-Paranoia in Non-clinical Adolescents -------------------- DATA & FILE OVERVIEW -------------------- This dataset contains: Data for General and Cyber-Paranoia in Non-clinical Adolescents [File list (filenames, directory structure (for zipped files) and brief description of all data files)] Relationship between files, if important for context: Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: N/A If data was derived from another source, list source: N/A If there are there multiple versions of the dataset, list the file updated, when and why update was made: N/A -------------------------- METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION -------------------------- Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Prospero:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/462987 Option 1 – Gatekeeper recruitment Participants will receive a poster with a link to either the parental combined PIS/Consent form or the participant combined PIS/Consent form. For parental consent. • When consent is given, Qualtrics will automatically generate a code and a link. The link for the PIS/Assent survey will be sent to parents to send to their child. When the child accesses the link they will then see a PIS/Assent form and will need to click to give assent and then enter the survey. Qualtrics will match parental consent to the child’s survey via the code generation system. Parents or participants will not see or generate the code. If participants wish to take part, they must click (tick) the consent/assent box to proceed. After giving consent/assent to take part, participants will: - Participants will be asked to disclose whether they are currently under the treatment of CAMHS or have been referred to CAMHS. If they respond yes the survey will end. - Demographic information (age, gender, ethnicity, current country of residence) will be collected. - Participants will then respond to the Personal Experience of Paranoia Scale (PEPS), the Cyber-paranoia and fear scale, the Severity Measure for Generalized Anxiety Disorder-Child Age 11-17 (GAD-C), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). One extra question will be added to this to serve a an attention check. The question will be: Some people have the experience of reading through questionnaires and not reading them properly. To make sure you are paying attention, we ask that you please leave this question blank and do not select a response regardless of what percentage of the time this happens to you. - Participants will be asked to complete the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ). - Participants will be debriefed and asked to provide their e-mail address in the form of a separate survey to allow for anonymous data collection if they wish to be entered for the prize draw or receive a copy of the finished research. Once the survey has been completed, participants will be debriefed and thanked for their time. The entire study should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Option 2 Participants aged 16 to 18 will be invited via online platforms to take part in the survey. If participants wish to take part, they must click (tick) the consent/assent box to proceed. After giving consent to take part, participants will: - Participants will be asked to disclose whether they are currently under the treatment of CAMHS or have been referred to CAMHS. If they respond yes the survey will end. - Demographic information (age, gender, ethnicity, current country of residence) will be collected. - Participants will then respond to the Personal Experience of Paranoia Scale (PEPS), the Cyber-paranoia and fear scale, the Severity Measure for Generalized Anxiety Disorder-Child Age 11-17 (GAD-C), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9). One extra question will be added to this to serve as an attention check. The question will be: Some people have the experience of reading through questionnaires and not reading them properly. To make sure you are paying attention, we ask that you please leave this question blank and do not select a response regardless of what percentage of the time this happens to you. - Participants will be asked to complete the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ). - Participants will be debriefed and asked to provide their e-mail address in the form of a separate survey to allow for anonymous data collection if they wish to be entered for the prize draw or receive a copy of the finished research. Once the survey has been completed, participants will be debriefed and thanked for their time. The entire study should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Methods for processing the data: Data was processed in SPSS, descriptive statistics, mean, median and standard deviatins were calculated. Mann-Whitney U test statisctic was calculated. Spearmans rho was calculated for varialbes, cyber-paranoia, cyber fear, anxiety, depression and metacognition. Software- or Instrument-specific information needed to interpret the data, including software and hardware version numbers: SPSS Version 30 Standards and calibration information, if appropriate: Environmental/experimental conditions: Online anonymous survey Describe any quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: IP address removed before data was extracted and processed. People involved with sample collection, processing, analysis and/or submission: Perena Wasterfall, Dr Emma Palmer-Cooper. Professore Lyn Ellett -------------------------- DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION -------------------------- Number of variables: 6 Number of cases/rows: 23 Variable list, defining any abbreviations, units of measure, codes or symbols used: worry, depression, anxiety, PEPS, cyber fear/paranoia Demographics Q3 What is your age? [dropdown menu 14 – 18] Q4 Gender Do you currently identify as being ….. Male/Female/Non-binary/Prefer not to say/Prefer to self-describe (specify if you wish) Q6 What is your ethnic background? Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi/Chinese/Asian British/Any other Asian background (please describe) African/Caribbean/Black British/Amy other Back African Caribbean background (please describe) Black Caribbean and White/Black African and White/Asian and White/Any other mixed/multiple ethnic backgrounds (please describe) English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British/Irish/Roma/Traveller/Irish Traveller/Any other White background (please describe) Arab/Any other ethnic group (please describe)/Prefer not to say Q7 Have you been referred to or are currently under the care of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Yes/no (If yes, the survey will end) PEPS Questionnaire The next 15 questions will ask you about your experiences of paranoia. Answer the questions as best as you can. Please note that in order for this survey to be anonymous, you should not include in your answers any information from which you, or other people, could be identified.’ Research shows that it is quite normal to sometimes believe that someone is trying to deliberately harm or upset you, or that others are in some way working together against you. For example, when you get a mark for an essay that is lower than you expected, you may conclude that the marker doesn’t like you and therefore deliberately gave you a low mark. Or alternatively, you may believe that others have deliberately excluded or rejected you as a way of trying to cause harm or upset. Q9 Have you ever had a feeling that people were deliberately trying to harm or upset you in some way? (Please circle the appropriate response) Yes/No Q10 Please describe an example of the situation where you felt someone deliberately trying to harm/upset you. Q11 In the above situation that you have described, at that time did you feel that the other people involved actively intended to harm you? Yes/No In the situation that you have described, how much did you feel that you were: Q12_1 Judged negatively by others • 1 (Not at all) 2 3 4 5 (Very much) Q12_2 Blocked from achieving your goals • 1 (Not at all) 2 3 4 5 (Very much) Q12_3 Powerless to stop what was being done to you • 1 (Not at all) 2 3 4 5 (Very much) Q13 What was the main emotion that you felt? Q14 What other feelings did you experience? Q15 At the time, why do you think this event happened? Q16 What did you do about this situation? Please describe the actions taken. Q17 What did you want to do? Q18_1 How much did this feeling preoccupy you at the time? • 1 (Not at all) 2 3 4 5 (Very much) Q19 How many times over the past month have you had this type of feeling? Q20_1 How much impact did this experience have on your wellbeing? • 1 (None at all) 2 3 4 5 (Severe) Was this feeling preceded by negative moods, such as sadness and worry? Yes/No Q21_1 How much did you believe that you deserved this mistreatment? • 1 2 3 4 5 Totally Somewhat Unsure Somewhat Totally undeserved undeserved deserved deserved Q22_1 At the present moment, has there been any change in your beliefs? Yes/No If yes, please specify. Cyber-Paranoia The next 11 questions are asking about paranoia relating to communication and surveillance in the use of technology. All the questions involve selecting an answer on a scale. Read the questions carefully and select the answer which most reflects your opinion. Q23_1 Increasing computer usage is changing children’s brains for the worse. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_2 It’s only a matter of time until the global web is brought down with dire consequences. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_3 I avoid using the internet on personal matters so as not to have my details accessed. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_4 I worry about others editing my Facebook page (or similar) without my consent. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_5 I worry about the effects of electromagnetic waves from mobile phones/phone masts. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_6 Terrorists will find new ways to use the internet to plan new attacks on the general public 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_7 Payment cards such as Oyster cards allow the authorities to monitor my travel and purchases. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_8 Companies that store data on customers are very vulnerable to theft of my private details. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_9 People do not worry enough about threats from their use of technology. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_10 People should worry that their movements can be monitored via their ‘smartphone’. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Q23_11 Closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) are illegally used to spy on people. 1 (strongly disagree) 2 (disagree) 3 (agree) 4 (strongly agree) Anxiety The next 10 questions are asking about anxiety and depression. Answer these questions whilst thinking about the last seven days only. They ask about thoughts, feelings and behaviours often tied to family, health, finances, school and work. Q24_1 During the past 7 days, I have felt moments of sudden terror, fear, or fright. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_2 During the past 7 days, I have felt anxious, worried, or nervous. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_3 During the past 7 days, I have had thoughts of bad things happening, such as family tragedy, ill health, loss of a job or accidents. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_4 During the past 7 days, I have felt a racing heart, sweaty, trouble breathing, faint, or shaky. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_5 During the past 7 days, I have felt tense muscles, felt on edge or restless, or had trouble relaxing or trouble sleeping. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_6 During the past 7 days, I have avoided, or did not approach or enter, situations about which I worry. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_7 During the past 7 days, I have left situations early or participated only minimally due to worries. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_8 During the past 7 days, I have spent lots of time making decisions, putting off making decisions, or preparing for situations, due to worries. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_9 During the past 7 days, I have sought reassurance from others due to worries. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Q24_10 During the past 7 days, I have needed help to cope with anxiety (e.g., medication, superstitious objects, or other people. 0 (never) 1 (occasionally) 2 (half of the time) 3 (most of the time) 4(all of the time) Depression For the next 9 questions, how often have you been bothered by each of the following symptoms during the past two weeks. For each symptom tick the box that best describes how you have been feeling. Q25_1 Little interest or pleasure in doing things? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_2 Feeling down, depressed, irritable, or hopeless? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_3 Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_4 Feeling tired, or having little energy? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_5 Poor appetite, weight loss, or overeating? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_6 Feeling bad about yourself – or feeling that you are a failure, or that you have let yourself or your family down? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_7 Trouble concentrating on things like schoolwork, reading, or watching TV? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_8 Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed? Or the opposite – being so fidgety or restless that you were moving around a lot more than usual? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q25_9 Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or hurting yourself in some way? 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Q26_1To make sure you are paying attention, we ask that you please leave this question blank and do not select a response regardless of what percentage of the time this happens to you. 0 (Not at all) 1 (several days) 2 (More than half the days) 3 (Nearly every day) Thought control The last 30 questions are designed to measure how well you can control unpleasant and unwanted thoughts. We are interested in the techniques you generally use to control unpleasant and unwanted thoughts. Read each statement carefully and tick the box which indicates how often you use each technique. In case you are wondering, validity can also mean how real is something. Q27_1 I call to mind positive images instead. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_2 I tell myself not to be so stupid. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_3 I focus on the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_4 I replace the thought with a more trivial bad thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_5 I don’t talk about the thought to anyone. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_6 I punish myself for thinking the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_7 I dwell on other worries. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_8 I keep the thought to myself. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_9 I occupy myself with work instead. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_10 I challenge the thoughts validity. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_1. I get angry at myself for having the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_12 I avoid discussing the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_13 I shout at myself for having the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_14 I analyse the thought rationally. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_15 I slap or pinch myself to stop the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_16 I think about pleasant thoughts instead. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_17 I find out how my friends deal with these thoughts. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_18 I worry about more minor things instead. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_19 I do something that I enjoy. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_20 I try to reinterpret the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_21 I think about something else. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_22 I think more about the more minor problems I have. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_2. I try a different way of thinking about it. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_24 I think about past worries instead. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_25 I ask my friends if they have similar thoughts. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_26 I focus on different negative thoughts. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_27 I question the reasons for having the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_28 I tell myself that something bad will happen if I think the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_29 I talk to a friend about the thought. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Q27_30 I keep myself busy. 1 (Not well at all) 2 (slightly well) 3 (Often) 4 (almost always) 5(Extremely well) Missing data codes: N/A Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: N/A Date that the file was created: May, 2025