Unique Contributions of Metacognition and Cognition to Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the unique contributions of "cognitions" or "metacognitions" to depressive symptoms while controlling for their intercorrelations and comorbid anxiety. Two-hundred-and-fifty-one university students participated in the study. Two complementary hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed, in which symptoms of depression were regressed on the dysfunctional attitudes (DAS-24 subscales) and metacognition scales (Negative Beliefs about Rumination Scale [NBRS] and Positive Beliefs about Rumination Scale [PBRS]). Results showed that both NBRS and PBRS individually explained a significant amount of variance in depressive symptoms above and beyond dysfunctional schemata while controlling for anxiety. Although dysfunctional attitudes as a set significantly predicted depressive symptoms after anxiety and metacognitions were controlled for, they were weaker than metacognitive variables and none of the DAS-24 subscales contributed individually. Metacognitive beliefs about ruminations appeared to contribute more to depressive symptoms than dysfunctional beliefs in the "cognitive" domain.

Examining the role of positive and negative metacognitive beliefs in depression

“…However, in this study we examined the individual contributions of both domains of negative metacognitive beliefs (negative beliefs about uncontrollability and harm, negative beliefs about the interpersonal and social consequences of rumination) that feature in the metacognitive model of depression, whereas Yilmaz et al . () entered the negative metacognitive beliefs as a unitary construct. Our analysis revealed that only negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and harm made a significant contribution to the final model.…”

“…The results from the hierarchical linear regression cross‐validate those obtained by Yilmaz et al . (), such that the block of metacognitive beliefs was able explain additional variance in depressive symptoms after controlling for dysfunctional attitudes. However, in this study we examined the individual contributions of both domains of negative metacognitive beliefs (negative beliefs about uncontrollability and harm, negative beliefs about the interpersonal and social consequences of rumination) that feature in the metacognitive model of depression, whereas Yilmaz et al .…”

“…In terms of direct evaluations of the contribution of cognitive and metacognitive beliefs to depression, only one study has so far been conducted. In a cross‐sectional cohort study using an analogue sample by Yilmaz, Gençöz and Wells (), metacognitive beliefs about rumination made a statistically greater statistical contribution to depression than dysfunctional attitudes, when controlling for anxiety symptoms. The current study aimed to extend the Yilmaz and colleagues study by controlling for the potential overlap between rumination and beliefs about rumination.…”

“…The present study also used a different measure of depression to facilitate cross‐validation with the Yilmaz et al . 's () study. Specifically, the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS‐SR; Rush, Gullion, Basco, Jarret & Trivedi, ) rather than the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, Rush, Shaw & Emery, ) was used in the present study.…”

Course and stability of cognitive and metacognitive beliefs in depression

“…Second, PB constitute an important part of the metacognitive model of depression (Wells et al., ; Yilmaz, Gençöz, & Wells, ). PB have been assumed to play an important role in the onset of depression as a link between rumination and depression (Huntley & Fisher, ; Weber & Exner, ).…”