Background Worry is a central cognitive feature of anxiety and emotional distress, and its accurate assessment is vital for understanding psychological well-being in high-stress societies such as Afghanistan. Objective The present study aimed to translate and validate the Dari/Farsi version of the of Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) in a sample of Afghan students. It employed a descriptive and validation-based approach. Method The target population of the present research included 254 undergraduate students studying at Herat University, Afghanistan, during the 2024–2025 academic year. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and responded to an online questionnaire distributed via Qualtrics. To assess temporal stability, a subsample of 40 participants completed the (PSWQ) again after a two-week interval. Data were collected using the PSWQ and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results Confirmatory factor analysis supported the unidimensional structure of the PSWQ, indicating an acceptable model fit ( χ 2 /df = 2.58, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.07). The PSWQ scores demonstrated moderate positive correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress as measured by the DASS-21 ( r = 0.53, 55, and 0.59, respectively; p 0.05). In addition, the scale showed satisfactory test–retest reliability over 2 weeks, ( r = 0.70, p 0.05), and high internal consistency ( α = 0.92). Conclusion Overall, the findings confirm that the Dari/Farsi version of the PSWQ possesses robust psychometric characteristics. Therefore, it can be confidently utilized as a reliable instrument for research applications as well as for clinical evaluation. Its use is recommended for psychologists and mental health professionals in both diagnostic settings and empirical studies.
Afsharzada et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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