Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) targets maladaptive beliefs about worry, uncertainty, problems, and emotions. Only half of individuals report clinically significant change after CBT, suggesting that not all relevant processes are addressed in treatment. Early writings advanced the self as a potential contributing mechanism to worry, but this has been underexplored. The present study investigated, in individuals high in GAD symptoms (N = 144), whether possible selves and self-concept clarity (SCC) uniquely predicted worry after controlling for established correlates. Thematic analysis was also applied to the content of the possible selves. Low SCC emerged as the second strongest correlate of worry, following negative beliefs about worry. Thematic analyses revealed that participant-generated self-descriptors tended to reflect intellectual enlightenment and exceptional achievement (ideal self), moral excellence (ought self), and a "flawed" self (feared self). Findings offer promising evidence for the role of self-constructs in the maintenance of chronic worry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]