Metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty and worry

Thielsch, Carolin; Andor, Tanja und Ehring, Thomas (Februar 2015): Metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty and worry. An investigation in adolescents. In: Personality and Individual Differences, Bd. 74: S. 94-98

Abstract

Background: Cognitive models of Generalized Anxiety Disorder have mainly been tested in adult samples to date. Studies investigating whether the concepts are also applicable to worry in adolescents are largely lacking. The goal of the present study was to test the relationship between worry and key cognitive variables (positive and negative metacognitions; intolerance of uncertainty) in adolescents.

Method: Secondary school students (N = 521) completed self-report measures of worry frequency, metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty, and depression.

Results: Results showed a significant association between metacognitions, intolerance of uncertainty and worry, even after controlling for depression. In regression analyses, a substantial proportion of the variance of worry could be accounted for by the cognitive variables of interest.

Conclusions: The findings support the relevance of metacognitions and intolerance of uncertainty for understanding cognitive mechanisms underlying worry in adolescents. It appears useful to combine them into a more comprehensive integrated model.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Keywords: Worry; Intolerance of uncertainty; Metacognition; Adolescents; Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Fakultät: Psychologie und Pädagogik > Department Psychologie > Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 150 Psychologie
• Sprache: Englisch