The metacognitive link between co-occurring intra- and interpersonal symptoms in major depression
Abstract
Objectives Co-occurring symptoms in depressed people currently in a relationship are sometimes considered to be due to interpersonal variables like dyadic adjustment, or intrapersonal factors such as a lack of dispositional mindfulness. Recent theories of emotional distress have, however, proposed that metacognitive beliefs could be a better link between these frequently co-occurring symptoms in major depression.Methods In a French sample of depressed inpatients currently in a relationship (n=30), we conducted a mediation analysis to assess whether the score of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 mediated the relation between on the one side the Beck depression inventory and on the other side the dyadic adjustment scale, the Beck anxiety inventory, and the five facets mindfulness questionnaire.Results By using a multiple linear regression and the Sobel test, we found that the Metacognitions Questionnaire fully mediated the association of depression severity with both anxiety and the affectionate expression of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and partially mediated that of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire with depression severity.Conclusions These results obtained in a clinical sample gave support for the mediating role of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs on some aspects of depressive symptomatology, as well as the likely metacognitive nature of important dispositional mindfulness facets. Limitations of this study are discussed, including its cross-sectional design as well as its sample size.
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Lefebvre et al found that the MCQ-30 mediated associations between depression severity, affective expression, and mindfulness facets among depressed couples.
“More recently also, Lefebvre et al [73] evaluated the role of meta-cognitive beliefs, as evaluated by MCQ-30, and mindfulness among depressed couples and found the MCQ-30 mediated associations between depression severity, affective expression, and mindfulness facets.”
From Mindful Nonreactivity, Anxiety, Depression, and Perceived Stress as Mediators of the Mindfulness Virtual Community Intervention—Pathways to Enhance Mental Health in University Students: Secondary Evaluation of Two Randomized Controlled Trials With Student Participants (2025) · cites this paper as [73]
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Pirbaglou, M., El Morr, C., Ahmad, F., & Ritvo, P. (2025) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/65853 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“More recently also, Lefebvre et al [73] evaluated the role of meta-cognitive beliefs, as evaluated by MCQ-30, and mindfulness among depressed couples and found the MCQ-30 mediated associations between depression severity, affective expression, and mindfulness facets.”
- Authors
- Lefebvre, O., Mellas, L., & Yon, V.
- Affiliations
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Philippe Pinel (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Lefebvre, O.
- Venue
- L Encéphale
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-08
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 357-363
- ISSN
- 0013-7006 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4291637170
- Cited by
- 1
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1
- FWCI
- 0.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- L Encéphale (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, metacognitive beliefs, Metacognitions Questionnaire-30, dyadic adjustment, trait mindfulness, anxiety, depression severity, couples, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Metacognition, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans
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