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Introduction: According to the self‐medication hypothesis, worriers use substances to cope with their symptoms; however, some published results have challenged this hypothesis. The aim of this study is to show if worry increases the risk of SUD when it is negatively appraised by negative metacognitive beliefs. Method: We recruited three samples: 68 patients with a severe AUD, 27 patients dependent on eating and 42 control participants. We used the Yale Food Addiction Scale‐2, the Metacognitions Questionnaire‐65, the UPPS‐P Impulsive Behaviour Scale and the Anxiety Thoughts Inventory. Results: We confirmed a direct effect of worries and metaworry on alcohol (AUD) and eating addiction (EA), but our multivariate analyses revealed that metacognitive beliefs and metaworry are the most robust predictors of alcohol and eating addiction. Discussion: We reported substance‐related differences in the relationship between worry and addiction. AUD is related to the metacognitive activity set in motion by worries while EA is associated with a maladaptive form of worry (meta‐worry) where worries are negatively interpreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There has been an increasing interest in understanding what contributes to the development and what maintains posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The cognitive model emphasizes that it is a disturbance of the autobiographical memory for the trauma, cognitive beliefs and maladaptive behaviour that maintain trauma symptoms. Interventions are based on cognitive restructuring and behaviour experiments to modify these beliefs. In contrast, the metacognitive model emphasizes that it is the metacognitive beliefs that give rise to the cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS) that maintain trauma symptoms. The focus of treatment is reducing CAS and working on metacognitive beliefs. The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of cognitions and metacognitive beliefs to trauma symptoms and investigate what predicts symptom burden in traumatized patients. Method: Participants (N = 290) diagnosed with PTSD were included, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to explore if cognitions and metacognitive beliefs explained additional and independent variance in trauma symptoms while controlling for age and gender. Results: Both cognitions and metacognitive beliefs contributed independently and significantly to predicting trauma symptoms. Conclusion: The results provide further support for investigating what maintains trauma symptoms and what to target in treatment. This may have clinical implications for our theoretical and practical understanding of PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seventy‐five per cent of UK suicides are completed by men, and associated masculinity beliefs are well researched. The self‐regulatory executive functioning (S‐REF) model of distress is governed by metacognitive beliefs about mental processes, such as worry and rumination. Little is known about metacognition in male suicidality and how these processes interact with masculinity beliefs, suicidal ideation and behaviour. Aims: To identify which aspects of the S‐REF model were present in a sample of men experiencing suicidality, and to consider how these processes interact with masculinity beliefs, suicidal ideation and behaviour. Method: Fifteen men experiencing suicidal ideation or behaviour were recruited from a home‐based treatment team. Semi‐structured interviews and self‐report measures were administered to identify metacognitive processes and masculinity beliefs. Interviews were analysed using the framework approach. Results: The S‐REF model was identified across three super‐ordinate themes; 'the cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS) and maladaptive coping', 'metacognitive beliefs about worry, uncontrollability and danger' and 'consequences'. Thirteen sub‐ordinate themes included processes such as 'worry' and 'rumination', metacognitive beliefs such as 'worrying helps me avoid problems' and 'worry is dangerous for me' and emotional consequences such as 'overwhelm', 'emasculation' and 'escape'. Conclusion: Perseverative thinking and erroneous metacognitive beliefs were associated with reduced functioning, which was incompatible with masculinity beliefs about leadership and strength, and suicide was considered as re‐establishing control. Further research into metacognitive processes in male suicidality would enhance theoretical understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a probable association between metacognitive beliefs (also termed 'metacognitions') and emotion dysregulation has been suggested in the literature, the evidence is still sparse and inconclusive. The current study aims to present a comprehensive evaluation of the literature examining the association between metacognitive beliefs and emotion dysregulation. In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) criteria, a search was conducted on PubMed and Ebsco. A manual search of reference lists was also run. Search terms were 'metacognitions/metacognitive beliefs/positive metacognitive beliefs/negative metacognitive beliefs/cognitive self‐consciousness/beliefs about the need to control thoughts/cognitive confidence/negative beliefs about thoughts concerning uncontrollability and danger/AND difficulties emotion regulation/emotion dysregulation'. A total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. In both non‐clinical and clinical populations, a higher endorsement of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs was found to be associated with emotion dysregulation and vice versa. A higher endorsement of metacognitive beliefs may be associated, either directly or via maladaptive forms of mental control (e.g., worry, rumination and suppression) to emotion dysregulation. Metacognitive beliefs could be the potential therapeutic target in clinical interventions aimed at reducing emotion regulation difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Using the Self‐Regulatory Executive Function model as a basis, this study explored whether, in patients with eating disorders (EDs), metacognitions and repetitive negative thinking are associated with higher levels of perfectionisms. Methods: One hundred twenty‐three outpatients with EDs were recruited. Perfectionism, metacognitive beliefs, worry, rumination, anger rumination, affective and eating symptoms were assessed. Correlation and hierarchal regression analyses were run. Results: Higher endorsement of positive beliefs about worry was associated with higher levels of 'personal standards perfectionism'. Higher endorsement of positive beliefs about worry, need to control thoughts, worry and rumination was associated with higher levels of 'concern over mistakes perfectionism'. Conclusions: Among patients with EDs, perfectionism appears to be associated with the endorsement of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, worry and rumination. Dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and repetitive negative thinking could be suitable therapeutic targets to reduce the levels of perfectionism among patients with EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) typically report interpersonal problems, and these are important targets in treatment beyond social anxiety symptoms as they impair quality of life, maintain emotion symptoms and effect on social functioning. What factors contribute to interpersonal problems? In the current study we set out to explore the role of metacognitive beliefs as correlates of interpersonal problems in patients treated for SAD when controlling for the effect of social phobic cognitions and symptoms. The sample consisted of 52 patients with a primary diagnosis of SAD participating in a randomized controlled trial comparing cognitive therapy, paroxetine, pill placebo, or the combination of cognitive therapy and paroxetine in treating SAD. Two hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to explore change in metacognitions as predictors of change in interpersonal problems when controlling for change in social phobic cognitions and social anxiety. Change in metacognitions accounted for unique variance in interpersonal problems improvement beyond change in cognitions. Furthermore, change in cognitions overlapped with change in social anxiety symptoms, and when controlling the overlap between these three predictors, only change in metacognitions was uniquely associated with improvement in interpersonal problems. This finding indicates that metacognitions are linked to interpersonal problems in patients with SAD with the implication that treatment should aim to modify metacognitive beliefs to alleviate interpersonal dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adults with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) experience high levels of depression and anxiety that are not always effectively ameliorated by current therapeutic approaches. The Self‐Regulatory Executive Function (S‐REF) model, which underpins metacognitive therapy (MCT), posits that depression and anxiety become persistent when stored metacognitive beliefs guide an individual to respond to common thoughts and feelings in a certain way. We hypothesized that (i) metacognitive beliefs would predict depression and anxiety independently of participants' representations of their illness; and (ii) rumination would mediate independent prediction of depression and anxiety by metacognitive beliefs. Design: A prospective mediation study. Methods: Four hundred and forty‐one adults with DM (Types 1 and 2) completed a two time‐point survey. Metacognitive beliefs, illness representations and rumination were measured at baseline, and depression and anxiety measured at baseline and 6‐months later. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Baseline illness representations, depression and anxiety were used as control variables. Results: A structural equation analysis showed potential mediation, by baseline rumination, of any effects of baseline metacognitive variables on 6‐month distress in Type 1 and 2 diabetes samples. Significant standardized coefficients for relationships between the metacognitive latent variable and rumination were.67 (Type 1) and.75 (Type 2) and between rumination and distress of.36 and.43, respectively. These effects were independent of direct and independent effects of illness representation variables. Conclusions: Findings are consistent with metacognitive beliefs playing a key role in depression and anxiety by increasing the likelihood of rumination in adults with DM. MCT may be an effective intervention for this population, subsequent to further longitudinal testing of the S‐REF model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cognitive Attentional Syndrome Scale 1 Revised (CAS‐1R) is a 10‐item self‐report measure designed to assess dysfunctional metacognition, a transdiagnostic predictor of psychological disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, major depression disorder). Dysfunctional metacognition is classified into “cognitive attentional syndrome” and “metacognitive beliefs,” and the latter in turn into negative and positive beliefs. We translated the CAS‐1R into Japanese (CAS‐1R‐J) and examined its reliability and validity in a Japanese community sample. We recruited 552 participants via the Internet and received responses from 552 individuals (Time 1) and 112 individuals (Time 2). Of these, the data of 87 individuals were used to examine test–retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the factor structure (three‐factor model) of the CAS‐1R‐J was appropriate. Each subscale showed good internal consistency. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed discriminant and incremental validity for anxiety and depressive symptoms, meaning the CAS‐1R‐J is valid to assess state cognitive attentional syndrome and metacognitive beliefs among Japanese individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Clinical fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is highly prevalent among breast cancer patients and appears early in the disease trajectory. A better understanding of psychological factors associated with clinical FCR is essential to guide screening and intervention development. This cross‐sectional study aimed to assess the contribution of attentional bias, intrusive thoughts, metacognitive beliefs, intolerance of uncertainty, thought suppression, and worry to clinical FCR in breast cancer patients in the early survivorship period. Methods: Seventy‐four patients treated for non‐metastatic breast cancer were enrolled at the end of their treatment. The FCR Inventory‐Short Form (FCRI‐SF) was used to discriminate between the patients with clinical versus nonclinical FCR. Attentional bias to negative and positive cancer‐related and non‐cancer‐related emotional words was assessed with a dot‐probe task. Words were presented for 17, 500, and 1500 ms. Intrusive thoughts and thought suppression were assessed with the White Bear Suppression Inventory, metacognitive beliefs with the Metacognitions Questionnaire‐30, intolerance of uncertainty with the Intolerance of Uncertainty Inventory‐Part A, and worry with the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. Results: According to univariate analyses, the patients with clinical FCR (FCRI‐SF ≥13) significantly differed from those with nonclinical FCR in terms of intrusive thoughts (p = 0.002), metacognitive beliefs (p = 0.029), intolerance of uncertainty (p < 0.001), and worry (p < 0.001). Intolerance of uncertainty (odds ratio, OR = 1.06; p = 0.040) and worry (OR = 1.09; p = 0.013) remained in the final logistic regression models. All the patients showed vigilance to cancer‐related words, whether with negative or positive valence, at automatic stages of processing (17 ms). Conclusions: Intolerance of uncertainty and worry were the two psychological factors contributing directly to clinical FCR in our cross‐sectional study. In addition, attentional bias did not differentiate breast cancer patients with clinical versus nonclinical FCR. Treatment approaches for clinical FCR in early survivorship care may need to integrate uncertainty and worry management intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognitive beliefs have emerged as important to health anxiety, particularly beliefs that health‐related thoughts are uncontrollable. Preliminary research examining generalized worry indicates uncontrollability beliefs relate more strongly to anxiety among US‐based self‐identifying White relative to Black college students. The present study sought to extend that line of research by examining if metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability of health‐related thoughts differentially relate to health anxiety among self‐identifying non‐Latinx Black (n = 123), Latinx (n = 104) and non‐Latinx White (n = 80) US‐based primary care patients. As predicted, although positive associations were seen across all three groups, beliefs that health‐related thoughts are uncontrollable more strongly related to health anxiety among White patients compared to both Black and Latinx patients. Those differential relations held in multivariate analyses while statistically controlling for positive depression screening status, generalized anxiety symptom severity and medical morbidity. Although the effect size surrounding the differential relations was small in magnitude, the present results further support the notion that metacognitive beliefs about uncontrollability relate less strongly to anxiety among US‐based ethnoracial minorities compared to White individuals. Potential reasons for the differential relations are discussed, along with additional areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metacognitive formulation of addictive behaviours considers repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and metacognitive beliefs as two important processes involved in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviours. To date, very limited research has investigated the implication of these processes in problematic cannabis use. The present study was aimed at exploring the association between RNT, metacognitive beliefs, and cannabis use in a sample of 157 problematic cannabis users. Participants were administered measures of cannabis use severity, RNT, metacognitive beliefs, anxiety, and depression. Multiple regression analysis showed that metacognitive beliefs (cognitive confidence, beliefs about the need to control thought, and cognitive self‐consciousness) were independent predictors of problematic cannabis use and related problem severity when controlling for RNT and negative affect (anxiety and depression). Furthermore, RNT predicted problematic cannabis use severity only for users with low levels of negative beliefs about thoughts concerning uncontrollability and danger. These data suggest that metacognitive beliefs and RNT may be two relevant cognitive processes for understanding problematic cannabis use. More generally, it enables the consideration of cannabis use from the perspective of self‐regulation theories, and more specifically cognitive regulation, thus offering several theoretical and clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metacognitive model of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) implicates metacognitive beliefs, meta‐memory beliefs and metacognitive control strategies in perpetuating and maintaining symptoms of PTSD. Despite this expanding area of research, the evidence for the metacognitive model of PTSD has not been reviewed. A systematic review according to the PRISMA statement was conducted. Searches across MEDLINE, PubMed and PsycNET, as well as reference lists of the included studies (2004 to March 2020), yielded 221 records. Two independent reviewers screened articles, which were included where the impact of the constructs of interest on PTSD symptoms was investigated within the framework of the metacognitive model for PTSD. Eighteen articles were included in the review. Eleven studies were determined to have good methodological robustness. Metacognitive therapy for PTSD demonstrated reductions in symptoms from pretreatment to post‐treatment, which were maintained at follow‐up. Predictors of greater PTSD symptom severity included metacognitive beliefs, meta‐memory beliefs, and worry, punishment, thought suppression, experiential avoidance, and rumination. Overall, support was found for the validity of the metacognitive model of PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both elevated intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and maladaptive metacognitive beliefs (MBs) were associated with depression. However, the relationship between MBs and IU in clinical depression is unclear. The current study aimed to investigate the putative impairment of MBs and IU in major depressive disorder (MDD) and explore the relationship between these two factors with depressive symptoms. Metacognition Questionnaire—30 Items (MCQ‐30), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale—Short Form (IUS‐12) and clinical rating scales were administered to 53 patients with MDD and 56 healthy controls (HCs). Stepwise regressions were performed to explore independent contributions of MBs and IU on depression. Mediation analysis was used to examine associations among variables. Patients with MDD reported higher IUS‐12 and MCQ‐30 scores than HCs. Stepwise regressions revealed a unique contribution of negative MBs concerning the consequences of not controlling thoughts (MCQ‐NC) on depression symptoms while controlling the effects of age, gender, anxiety symptoms and IU. MCQ‐NC and negative MBs concerning the uncontrollability and danger of negative thinking (MCQ‐NEG) completely mediated the effects of IU on depression and anxiety symptoms. Our results provided clear evidence that maladaptive negative MBs are directly associated with depression symptoms, and mediated the effect of IU on depression and anxiety symptoms, suggesting that IU and MBs influence clinical symptoms in a hierarchical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Literature has pointed out a probable association between metacognitive beliefs and eating disorders. To date, no study has synthetized all research exploring the differences or similarities in metacognitive beliefs across different eating disorders diagnoses and eating problems. Aims: To review the evidence on metacognitive beliefs across the spectrum of eating disorders and eating behaviours. Method: A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed and PsycInfo. The search terms used were: 'eating disorders/anorexia/bulimia/binge eating disorder/binge eating' AND 'metacognitions/metacognitive beliefs'. A manual search of reference lists was also run. Results: Eleven studies were identified. Anorexia Nervosa was broadly characterized by higher levels of metacognitive beliefs compared to the general population, particularly negative beliefs about worry and beliefs about the need to control thoughts. Positive beliefs about worry were higher in Anorexia Nervosa compared to Bulimia Nervosa and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, and in Bulimia Nervosa compared to Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Negative beliefs about worry were higher in Anorexia Nervosa compared to Bulimia Nervosa. Cognitive self‐consciousness was higher in Anorexia Nervosa compared to Bulimia Nervosa and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Conclusions: Metacognitive beliefs appear to be implicated in eating disorders and eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networking sites (SNSs) enrol new subscribers each day. However, problematic SNS use has undesirable effects on psychological functioning. Therefore, it is important to identify the factors that contribute to the development of problematic SNS use. Very few studies have focused on revealing the underlying mechanisms of problematic SNS use. Although many past studies have examined the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and Internet addiction, the association between metacognitive beliefs and problematic SNS use has not been adequately explored. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between metacognitive beliefs and problematic SNS use among young adults. A total of 308 individuals participated in this study. A socio‐demographic data form, the Metacognitions Questionnaire‐30 (MCQ‐30), and Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) were administered. Group comparisons were performed using multivariate analysis of covariance. Pearson's correlational and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between metacognitive beliefs and problematic SNS use. The SNS addicts scored higher in all of the SMAS assessments. When compared to non‐addicts, SNS addicts obtained higher scores on all the subtests of the SMAS and MCQ‐30 except cognitive self‐consciousness. The negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry, cognitive confidence, and need for control thoughts were associated with SMAS mood modification, relapse and conflict subdimensions. Our findings revealed that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs are related to problematic SNS use among young adults. These findings indicate that mental health workers should consider the modification of metacognitive beliefs in the treatment of problematic SNS use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyberchondria refers to the tendency to excessively and compulsively search for online medical information despite the distress experienced, with consequent impairment of daily‐life activities. The current two studies sought to explore (i) the factor structure of the Italian version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) and (ii) a metacognitive model of cyberchondria. Participants were Italian community adults who reported using the Internet to search for health‐related information (Study 1: N = 374, Study 2: N = 717). Results from Study 1 supported the Italian version of the CSS exhibiting a five‐factor structure, with the resulting scales demonstrating good internal consistency, 5‐week test–retest reliability, and generally strong correlations with indices of health anxiety. In Study 2, results of a path analysis showed that the negative metacognitive belief domain ("thoughts are uncontrollable") shared the strongest direct association with each of the five dimensions of cyberchondria, followed by beliefs about rituals. Consistently, the strongest indirect associations were found between "thoughts are uncontrollable" and all the five cyberchondria dimensions via beliefs about rituals. These results provide support for an Italian version of the CSS and the metacognitive conceptualization of cyberchondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognitive model is a theoretical approach aimed to explain emotion dysregulation and others emotion-related issues, such anger, and aggressive behavior. From this model, people having higher maladaptive metacognitive beliefs (e.g., "I can't control my thoughts") are more likely to activate and maintain anger rumination and, in turn, to experience higher levels of anger and to act aggressively. Preliminary evidence shows the role of metacognitive beliefs on anger rumination and anger levels, whereas no studies have examined its association with aggressive behavior. This study first examined the associations between metacognitive beliefs, anger rumination, anger levels, and the propensity to engage in displaced aggression, and second, the mediation role of anger rumination in the relations among metacognitive beliefs and anger and displaced aggression. Participants were 947 students and non-students from general population recruited in two different countries (Australia and Spain). Correlational analyses revealed a similar pattern of results in the Australian and Spanish sample, with participants having dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs also showing higher anger rumination, higher levels of anger and a higher tendency to act aggressively. Structural equation analyses revealed the associations of metacognitive beliefs with anger levels and displaced aggression was fully mediated by anger rumination in both samples. These results suggest that metacognitive beliefs should be considered in comprehensive models and in the therapy of anger problems and aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In this research, we applied current theories of metacognition to study computer security and tested the idea that users' password selection is affected by the metacognitive belief that if a password is memorable, then it is not secure. In two experiments, different types of eight‐character passwords and longer, more secure sentences were presented. Participants rated perceived memorability and perceived security of the passwords and indicated whether they would use them in a critical and in a noncritical service. The results confirmed the belief. Sentences that are in fact highly secure and perceived as highly memorable were also perceived as weak passwords. The belief strongly affected password selection for critical services, but it had no effect on noncritical services. In sum, long sentences are a particularly interesting type of password because they meet both security and memorability criteria, but their use is limited by a false belief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ‐30) is a brief multidimensional measure used for assessment of metacognitive beliefs in psychopathology. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of MCQ‐30 in Serbian nonclinical (n = 246) and clinical (n = 171; anxiety and depressive disorders) samples. The reliability of the questionnaire and its subscales was satisfactory. An exploratory factor analysis yielded a five‐factor solution in both groups, whereas a confirmatory factor analysis showed a somewhat weaker fit of the model. The MCQ‐30 showed positive associations with measures of anxiety, pathological worry, depressive, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in both samples, demonstrating adequate convergent validity. The instrument was sensitive to differences in metacognitive beliefs between nonclinical and clinical samples. MCQ‐30 subscales showed incremental contributions in predicting pathological worry after controlling for the variance in obsessive–compulsive symptoms and vice versa. Our results suggest that the MCQ‐30 is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing metacognitive beliefs in both nonclinical and clinical samples. Moreover, the findings support the use of the MCQ‐30 in Serbian population and extend support for the metacognitive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Metacognitions Questionnaire‐30 (MCQ‐30) has been used to assess metacognitive beliefs in a range of mental health problems. The aim of this study is to assess the validity of the MCQ‐30 in people at risk for psychosis. Methods: One hundred eighty‐five participants meeting criteria for an at risk mental state completed the MCQ‐30 as part of their involvement in a randomized controlled trial. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted to assess factor structure and construct validity. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the original five‐factor structure of the MCQ‐30. Examination of principal component analysis and parallel analysis outputs also suggested a five‐factor structure. Correlation analyses including measures of depression, social anxiety, and beliefs about paranoia showed evidence of convergent validity. Discriminant validity was supported using the normalizing subscale of the beliefs about paranoia tool. Conclusions: The MCQ‐30 demonstrated good fit using the original five‐factor model, acceptable to very good internal consistency of items was evident and clinical usefulness in those at risk for psychosis was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: It is increasingly accepted that paranoia lies on a continuum of severity that can be observed in the general population. Several psychological factors have been implicated in the development of more distressing persecutory ideas including negative affect (i.e., anxiety and depression), beliefs about oneself and other people (i.e., schemas), and metacognitive beliefs. This study aimed to explore the combined role of cognition and metacognition in paranoia. Specifically, unhelpful metacognitive beliefs and schematic beliefs were tested as potential moderators of the relationship between non‐clinical paranoid ideation and negative affect. Methods: Measures from 227 people who took part in a cross‐sectional online survey were analysed using structural equation modelling. A series of models grounded in cognitive and metacognitive theory were tested sequentially. Results: The results demonstrated that unhelpful metacognitive beliefs had a positive moderating effect on the relationship between paranoia and negative affect. Negative beliefs about oneself and other people did not moderate negative affect but positive beliefs about other people had a negative moderating effect. In a final model, negative schematic beliefs predicted paranoid ideation whilst metacognitive beliefs predicted and moderated affect. Conclusions: The findings suggest that consideration of metacognitive beliefs, as well as schemas, may be important in understanding non‐clinical paranoia. Practitioner points: Metacognitive beliefs may be an important determinant of negative affect in the context of non‐clinical paranoia. The consideration of both cognitive and metacognitive factors may be helpful when working with people with distressing paranoid ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a major risk factor for developing symptoms of depression. Severity of social anxiety has previously been identified as a risk factor, and cognitive models emphasize dysfunctional schemas and self‐processing as the key vulnerability factors underlying general distress in SAD. However, in the metacognitive model, depressive and other symptoms are related to metacognitive beliefs. The aim of this study was therefore to test the relative contribution of metacognitions when controlling for SAD severity and factors postulated in cognitive models. In a cross‐sectional design, 102 patients diagnosed with primary SAD were included. We found that negative metacognitive beliefs concerning uncontrollability and danger and low confidence in memory emerged as the only factors explaining depressive symptoms in the regression model, suggesting that metacognitive beliefs are associated with increased depressive symptoms in SAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has supported the specific role that anxiety sensitivity, health‐related dysfunctional beliefs, and metacognitive beliefs may play in the development and maintenance of health anxiety symptoms. However, the role of metacognitive beliefs in health anxiety has only been explored in analogue samples. The aim of this study was to explore for the first time the association between metacognitive beliefs and health anxiety symptoms in a sample of participants who reported having received a diagnosis of severe health anxiety (hypochondriasis) or illness anxiety disorder and test whether these beliefs are significant predictors of health anxiety after controlling for anxiety, depression, anxiety sensitivity, and dysfunctional beliefs. A series of dimensional self‐report measures were administered to a large Italian sample (N = 458). At a bivariate level, Beliefs that Thoughts are Uncontrollable had a stronger association with health anxiety than any of the dysfunctional beliefs and anxiety sensitivity subscales. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that Beliefs that Thoughts are Uncontrollable predicted health anxiety symptoms over‐and‐above depression, general anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and health‐related dysfunctional beliefs. Despite many important limitations, this study supported the hypothesis that metacognition may have an important role in health anxiety in clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cognitive–behavioural and metacognitive approaches to emotional disorder implicate beliefs in social anxiety, but the types of beliefs differ across these perspectives. Cognitive models suggest that social beliefs about the self (i.e., high standards and conditional and unconditional beliefs) are central. In contrast, the metacognitive model gives centre stage to metacognitive beliefs (i.e., positive and negative beliefs about thinking) as main contributors to the maintenance of the disorder. Despite an expanding research interest in this area, the evidence for such contributions has not yet been reviewed. This study set out to systematically review relevant cross‐sectional, longitudinal, and experimental investigations of the direct and indirect (through cognitive processes, such as anticipatory processing, self‐focused attention, the post‐mortem, and avoidance) relationships of social and metacognitive beliefs with social anxiety. Clinical and nonclinical samples were included, and correlation and regression coefficients as well as results from group comparisons (e.g., t tests and analyses of variance) were extracted. Overall, 23 papers were located, through PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science, and reviewed using narrative synthesis. The results showed a robust positive relationship between social beliefs and social anxiety that appeared to be mediated by cognitive processes. Specific metacognitive beliefs were found to positively contribute to social anxiety both directly and indirectly, through cognitive processes. The study's findings are limited to 2 models of social anxiety and other minor limitations (e.g., grey literature was excluded). With these accounted for, the results are discussed in terms of the conceptualization and treatment of social anxiety and suggestions for future research are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder (SAD) based on the Clark and Wells model emphasizes negative beliefs about the social self and self-consciousness as central causal factors. However, Wells' metacognitive model proposes that metacognitive beliefs are central to pathology universally. The relative importance of cognitive and metacognitive beliefs in the treatment of SAD is therefore an important research question. This study examined change in negative cognitive and negative metacognitive beliefs as independent correlates of symptom improvement in 46 SAD patients undergoing evidence-based treatments. Both types of beliefs decreased during treatment. However, change in metacognitive belief was the only consistent independent predictor across all outcomes and change in cognitive beliefs did not significantly predict outcomes when change in self-consciousness was controlled. The implication of this finding is that metacognitive change might be more important than cognitive belief change in symptom outcome and recovery in SAD. Key Practitioner Message Cognitive and metacognitive beliefs decreased during treatment of SAD., Change in self-consciousness predicted symptom improvement., Change in metacognition predicted symptom improvement over change in cognition., Change in metacognition was a more reliable predictor than change in cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyberchondria refers to the repeated use of the Internet to search for health-related information, which leads to negative consequences. This two-part study provides the first known examination of how cyberchondria relates to (a) problematic Internet use and (b) metacognitive beliefs. Participants were U.S. community adults who reported using the Internet to search for health-related information (Study 1: N = 337, Study 2: N = 260). In Study 1, cyberchondria shared a strong association with problematic Internet use, and that association was unaccounted for by age, gender, current reported medical status, negative affect, or health anxiety. In Study 2, cyberchondria was found to share moderate to strong associations with metacognitive beliefs. The association between cyberchondria and metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability of thoughts remained intact after accounting for the Study 1 covariates, as well as anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty. Neither anxiety sensitivity nor intolerance of uncertainty shared unique associations with cyberchondria. These results provide a preliminary indication that a metacognitive conceptualization of problematic Internet use may be applicable to cyberchondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metacognitive approach conceptualizes the relationship between anger and rumination as driven by metacognitive beliefs, which are information individuals hold about their own cognition and about coping strategies that impact on it. The present study aimed to test the prospective predictive impact of metacognitive beliefs and rumination on anger in a community sample. Seventy-six participants were recruited and engaged in a 2-week anger, rumination, and metacognitive beliefs monitoring protocol. A multi-wave panel design was employed to test whether metacognitive beliefs and rumination have a prospective impact on anger. Metacognitive beliefs and rumination were found to have a significant prospective impact on anger that was independent from the number of triggering events. Metacognitive beliefs about the need to control thoughts were shown to have a direct impact on subsequent anger, independently from rumination. These findings provide support for the potential value for applying metacognitive theory and therapy to anger-related problems. Aggr. Behav. 43:421-429, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many psychological models have been developed to explain the development and maintenance of depression. The most widely evaluated model is the cognitive model of depression, and it is against this model that emerging models should be compared. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study examined whether metacognitive beliefs, as specified in the metacognitive model of depression, would explain additional variance in depressive symptoms over dysfunctional attitudes; the core feature of the cognitive model. Moreover, mediational relationships between metacognitive beliefs, rumination, and depressive symptoms, predicted by the metacognitive model were also explored, whilst controlling for dysfunctional attitudes. A sample of 715 students completed self-report questionnaires measuring depressive symptoms, rumination, dysfunctional attitudes, and metacognitive beliefs. Regression analyses showed that metacognitive beliefs made a significant statistical contribution to depressive symptoms, after controlling for age, gender, rumination and dysfunctional attitudes. Furthermore, as predicted by the metacognitive model, the relationship between positive metacognitive beliefs and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by rumination, whilst the relationship between negative metacognitive beliefs about uncontrollability and danger and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by rumination. The results provide further empirical support for the metacognitive model of depression and indicate that positive and negative metacognitive beliefs play an integral role in the maintenance of depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Research suggests that metacognitive beliefs may be involved in psychological distress and even in the pathogenesis of emotional disorders. The present research is a first attempt to investigate how certain metacognitive aspects operate as favorable or adverse factors influencing subjective well‐being (SWB) in the parents of children with cancer. Method: Thirty parents of children being treated for cancer completed questionnaires on their metacognitive beliefs (Metacognition Questionnaire), sensitivity to autobiographical memory, and self‐reported measures of positive and negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). Results in the study group were compared with those obtained from 36 control parents of children being treated for acute, not life‐threatening illnesses (hospitalized control group) and from 30 control parents of healthy children (healthy control group). Results: Parents in both the study group and the hospitalized control group reported less SWB than the healthy control group. Most important, metacognitive aspects explained up to 77% of the variance in SWB in parents of children with cancer, as opposed to only 23% in hospitalized control group and 33% in the healthy control group. Conclusion: Different metacognitive aspects have a crucial role—both negative and positive—in SWB of parents of children with cancer. It is suggested that the psychological support for parents coping with a child suffering from oncological disease should assess such aspects and try to address them in clinical practice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary research has indicated that metacognitions are involved in smoking. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether specific facets of metacognition play a role in explaining smoking initiation and perseveration. Twelve individuals, self‐identified as regular smokers and scoring a positive value on the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence, were assessed using a semi‐structured interview to investigate the following: (1) whether they held positive and/or negative metacognitive beliefs about smoking; (2) what their main goal in smoking was, and how they knew if they had achieved their goal; (3) how they directed their focus of attention when smoking; and (4) what they perceived the advantages and disadvantages of these attentional strategies to be. Results indicated that participants endorsed both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs about smoking and that the goal of smoking was to regulate negative emotion and/or to enhance cognitive functioning. Participants reported that they relied either on an internal signal, such as improvement in the emotional/cognitive state, or on a physical sign, in the form of a finished cigarette, to determine if they had achieved their goal. During an episode of smoking, half of the participants reported focusing their attention internally on thoughts and feelings or the sensations of smoking. The remainder of participants reported either an exclusively external focus of attention (e.g., the environment) or a varied focus of attention. Most participants were able to identify advantages to their attentional strategies, whereas two reported perceived disadvantages. The implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message • Cognitive‐attentional profiling that may aid assessment and conceptualisation of smoking behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sub-clinical symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations and delusions, known as positive schizotypy, constitute one of the strongest predictive factors for adult psychotic disorders. Recent cognitive models suggest that the expression of positive schizotypy is associated with depression, anxiety, metacognitive beliefs and self-monitoring deficits. In this study, we present empirical data on the relationships positive schizotypy hold with both emotional and cognitive factors. Methods: A sample of 163 adolescents (77 females) participated in this study (mean age 15.3, 12–18 years). Subjects filled out self-report questionnaires assessing the emotional dimensions of depression and anxiety, as well as metacognitive beliefs. Self-monitoring skills were assessed using an action monitoring paradigm sensitive to dysfunctions associated with psychosis-proneness. Multivariate regression models were employed to examine emotional and cognitive contributions to positive schizotypy during adolescence. Results: Analyses revealed that dimensions of depression, anxiety, and metacognitive beliefs significantly correlated with the expression of positive schizotypy. When accounting for the effects of depression and metacognitive beliefs in adolescents reporting hallucinations, self-monitoring dysfunctions seemed to represent a significant factor in the expression of positive schizotypy. Conclusion: The present results suggest that the expression of positive schizotypy during adolescence is modulated by emotional factors of depression and anxiety, as well as metacognitive beliefs and self-monitoring dysfunctions. The current data lend some evidence that supports the cognitive-developmental account of positive symptom formation before the onset of a psychotic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on an investigation into the language learning beliefs of students of French in England, aged 16 to 18. It focuses on qualitative data from two groups of learners (10 in total). While both groups had broadly similar levels of achievement in French in terms of examination success, they differed greatly in the self-image they had of themselves as language learners, with one group displaying low levels of self-efficacy beliefs regarding the possibility of future success. The implications of such beliefs for students' levels of motivation and persistence are discussed, together with their possible causes. The article concludes by suggesting changes in classroom practice that might help students develop a more positive image of themselves as language learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]