Difficulties in emotion regulation: The role of repetitive negative thinking and metacognitive beliefs

Giovanni Mansueto; Claudia Marino; Sara Palmieri; Alessia Offredi; Diego Sarracino; Sandra Sassaroli; Giovanni Maria Ruggiero; Marcantonio M Spada; Gabriele Caselli

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.086

Difficulties in emotion regulation: The role of repetitive negative thinking and metacognitive beliefs

J Affect Disord. 2022 Jul 1:308:473-483. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.086. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Authors

Giovanni Mansueto¹, Claudia Marino², Sara Palmieri³, Alessia Offredi⁴, Diego Sarracino⁵, Sandra Sassaroli⁶, Giovanni Maria Ruggiero⁷, Marcantonio M Spada⁸, Gabriele Caselli⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Ripa di Porta Ticinese 77, 20143 Milan, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Florence, Italy. Electronic address: g.mansueto@milano-sfu.it.
² School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Rd, SE1 0AA London, UK; Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
³ Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Ripa di Porta Ticinese 77, 20143 Milan, Italy; School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Rd, SE1 0AA London, UK; Studi Cognitivi, Cognitive Psychotherapy School and Research Center Milan, Foro Buonaparte 57, 20121 Milan, Italy.
⁴ Studi Cognitivi, Cognitive Psychotherapy School and Research Center Milan, Foro Buonaparte 57, 20121 Milan, Italy.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milan, Italy.
⁶ Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Ripa di Porta Ticinese 77, 20143 Milan, Italy; Studi Cognitivi, Cognitive Psychotherapy School and Research Center Milan, Foro Buonaparte 57, 20121 Milan, Italy.
⁷ Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Ripa di Porta Ticinese 77, 20143 Milan, Italy; Psicoterapia Cognitiva e Ricerca, Cognitive Psychotherapy School and Research Center Milan, Foro Buonaparte 57, 20121 Milan, Italy.
⁸ School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Rd, SE1 0AA London, UK.

PMID: 35460736
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.086

Abstract

Background: Using the Self-Regulatory Executive Function model as a basis, this study explored whether, in both general population and clinical samples, metacognitive beliefs and repetitive negative thinking (i.e., rumination and worry) are associated with higher levels of emotion dysregulation.

Methods: 395 participants from the general population and 388 outpatients seeking psychological treatment were recruited. Emotion dysregulation, metacognitive beliefs, rumination, worry, anxiety, depression, personality disorders were assessed. ANOVA and Welch's tests, correlation and path analyses were run.

Results: Repetitive negative thinking was found to play a mediating role in the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and emotion dysregulation in both general population and clinical samples. Moreover, metacognitive beliefs were found to be directly associated to emotion dysregulation.

Limitations: The cross-sectional design.

Conclusions: Emotion dysregulation appears to be associated with the tendency to engage in repetitive negative thinking and metacognitive beliefs. Repetitive negative thinking and metacognitive beliefs could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce difficulties in emotion regulation.

Keywords: Emotion dysregulation; Metacognitive beliefs; Rumination; Worry.

MeSH terms

Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders / psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emotional Regulation*
Humans
Metacognition*
Pessimism*