The Role of Metacognition in Self-Critical Rumination: An Investigation in Individuals Presenting with Low Self-Esteem

Abstract

Background: No research, to date, has directly investigated the role of metacognition in selfcritical rumination and low self-esteem. Aim: To investigate the presence of metacognitive beliefs about self-critical rumination; the goal of self-critical rumination and its stop signal; and the degree of detachment from intrusive self-critical thoughts. Method: Ten individuals reporting both a self-acknowledged tendency to judge themselves critically and having low self-esteem were assessed using metacognitive profiling, a semi-structured interview.Results: All participants endorsed both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs about self-critical rumination. Positive metacognitive beliefs concerned the usefulness of selfcritical rumination as a means of improving cognitive performance and enhancing motivation. Negative metacognitive beliefs concerned the uncontrollability of self-critical rumination and its negative impact on mood, motivation and perception of self-worth. The primary goal of engaging in self-critical rumination was to achieve a better or clearer understanding of a given trigger situation or to feel more motivated to resolve it. However, only four participants were able to identify when this goal had been achieved, which was if the trigger situation were not to occur again. Participants unanimously stated that they were either unable to detach from their self-critical thoughts or could do so some of the time with varying degrees of success. More often than not, though, self-critical thoughts were viewed as facts, would rarely be seen as distorted or biased, and could take hours or days to dissipate. Conclusions:These findings provide preliminary evidence that specific facets of metacognition play a role in the escalation and perseveration of self-critical rumination.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of CBT interventions based on the Fennell model of low self-esteem

“…Rumination, for example, "the process of thinking perseveratively about one"s feelings and problems" (Nolen-Hoeksema, Wisco, & Lyubomirsky, 2008, p. 400), may play a significant role in defining and maintaining one"s self-esteem (Kuster et al, 2012;Orth et al, 2006). Recent research has started to explore the construct of self-critical rumination, which is a tendency to dwell on self-critical thoughts, in addition to the metacognitive processes involved in maintaining it (Kolubinski et al, 2017(Kolubinski et al, , 2016Smart et al, 2015).…”

The metacognitions about self-critical rumination questionnaire

“…Recent research has started to explore the role that the process of rumination plays in maintaining levels of self-criticism (Kolubinski, Nikčević, Lawrence, & Spada, 2015;Smart, Peters, & Baer, 2015). Self-criticism is an intense and persistent form of internal dialogue that expresses hostility toward the self when one is unable to attain one's own high standards (Shahar, 2015).…”

“…The S-REF model is also central to Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), which has been successfully applied to the treatment of psychological disorders (Normann, Van Emmerik, & Morina, 2014;Wells, 2009). More recently, Kolubinski et al (2015) interviewed individuals with low self-esteem, who did not qualify for a diagnosis of a mental health disorder, about their perceptions of, and experience with, their self-critical thoughts. In doing so, they identified several justifications for why individuals might engage in self-critical rumination.…”

Metacognitions about Self-Critical Rumination Questionnaire

“…More recently, Kolubinski et al (2015) interviewed individuals with low self-esteem, who did not qualify for a diagnosis of a mental health disorder, about their perceptions of, and experience with, their self-critical thoughts. In doing so, they identified several justifications for why individuals might engage in self-critical rumination.…”