Metacognition, cognition and social anxiety: A test of temporal and reciprocal relationships

Metacognitive strategies mediate the association between metacognitive beliefs and perceived quality of life

Quality of life may be understood as a multidimensional evaluation of life circumstances in relation to values, expectations, and perceived well-being. Quality of life is thus dependent on the subjective perception of the current life situation, not only objective circumstances. According to metacognitive theory, metacognition guides the appraisal of inner experiences (i.e., thoughts and feelings) and influences how one relates to external stressors. Hence, dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and the cognitive attentional syndrome (CAS), which includes perseverative thinking, threat monitoring and ineffective coping strategies, may negatively influence subjective quality of life. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if metacognitive beliefs and CAS strategies were associated with quality of life. A sample of 503 participants (77.1% women, mean age 41.0, SD = 11.5) completed the metacognitions questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30), the CAS-1 and the quality of life scale (QOLS). We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to estimate associations between the variables founded in metacognitive theory. The results of the SEM showed a significant direct relationship between metacognitive beliefs and quality of life. CAS strategies mediated the effect of metacognitive beliefs on quality of life. Higher level of metacognitive beliefs was associated with greater use of CAS strategies, which in turn was associated with lower quality of life. Further, more CAS strategies were associated with lower quality of life. The results support the generic metacognitive model and suggest that stronger endorsement of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and corresponding CAS strategies are associated with lower quality of life. This observation held even when controlling for relevant covariates and suggests that modifying metacognitive beliefs may impact on subjective quality of life.

Metacognitive beliefs predict interpersonal problems in patients with social anxiety disorder

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.

Prospective Relations Between Dysfunctional Metacognitive Beliefs, Metacognitive Strategies, and Anxiety: Results From a Four-Wave Longitudinal Mediation Model

The metacognitive model of psychological disorders suggests that emotional disorders are related to maladaptive metacognitive strategies corresponding to underlying dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs. There is substantial empirical evidence supporting a role of metacognition in psychopathology, but fewer studies have evaluated the metacognitive model using longitudinal data and taken into consideration its differentiation between components and how they are hypothesized to be related to each other. Thus, more specific model evaluation is important as it relates to identifying mechanisms of disorder with a potential to provide clinical advances. In the present study, 868 participants took part in a 4-wave survey and reported on metacognitive beliefs and strategies and anxiety symptoms. Two longitudinal mediation models (forward and reversed causation) were run to test temporal precedence and bidirectional relations. The results indicated that metacognitive beliefs significantly predicted metacognitive strategies, which further predicted anxiety symptoms and mediated the indirect effect in the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and anxiety over time. The relationship between metacognitive beliefs and anxiety symptoms over time were bidirectional, but this relationship was not accounted for by metacognitive strategies. These findings largely support central predictions set forward by the metacognitive model and indicate that metacognitions play a preceding and maintaining role in anxiety.

Metacognitive beliefs and anxiety symptoms could serve as mediators between fear of missing out and gaming disorder in adolescents

Given the vulnerability to and prevalence of emotional problems and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) in adolescents, this study aimed to test the effects of fear of missing out (FoMO) on IGD and the mediating roles of metacognitive beliefs and anxiety symptoms based on the self-regulatory executive function (S-REF) model. At a Chinese high school, 283 participants (M_age = 16.89 years old; girls = 42.0%) with past-year gaming experience voluntarily completed an anonymous paper-and-pencil questionnaire. FoMO showed significant, positive associations with IGD, anxiety symptoms, and metacognitive beliefs. Results of path analysis showed a significant direct effect of FoMO on IGD, whereas anxiety symptoms mediated the relationship between FoMO and IGD. The indirect effects of FoMO on IGD via serial mediations of three negative metacognitive beliefs (i.e., negative beliefs about worry, low cognitive confidence, and beliefs regarding need for control) and anxiety symptoms were also statistically significant. These findings demonstrated that maladaptive metacognitive beliefs and anxiety are risk-enhancing mediators in the relationship between FoMO and IGD. Therefore, metacognitive therapy, particularly for regulating those three specific significant metacognitive beliefs, is recommended for treating IGD and anxiety, especially for those with higher levels of FoMO.