Psychological factors predicting stress symptoms: Metacognition, thought control, and varieties of worry
Abstract
This study tested predictions of the metacognitive model of post-traumatic stress disorder (Wells, 2000) concerning relationships between stress symptoms and maladaptive control of thoughts. We tested the hypothesis that the tendency to use worry as a means of controlling thoughts will be positively predictive of stress symptoms. In doing so, overlaps with symptomatic worry, stress symptoms, and stress exposure at time 1 was controlled. One hundred and ten (110) college students were assessed twice, over a three-month period. Consistent with predictions, use of worry as a thought control strategy made a significant and independent contribution to the prediction of stress symptoms. The findings provide further support for Wells' metacognitive model of stress reactions.
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Individual differences in the use of worry to regulate distressing thoughts is a prospective predictor of stress symptoms in college students following exposure to life events.
“In line with these findings, individual differences in the use of worry to regulate distressing thoughts is a prospective predictor of stress symptoms in college students following exposure to life events (Roussis & Wells, 2008).”
From Metacognitive Theory and Therapy for Worry and Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Review and Status (2010) · cites this paper as Roussis & Wells, 2008
Cites
Development and validation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire
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Modelling cognition in emotional disorder: the S-REF model
Wells, A., & Matthews, G. (1996) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(96)00050-2 · Cited by 1,067 · see citing works
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Low urinary cortisol excretion in Holocaust survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder
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Wells, A., & Papageorgiou, C. (1995) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(94)00087-z · Cited by 229 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Studies using exposure to analogue stress have demonstrated that worrying about a stressor has an incubative effect on the frequency of stress-related images over the next three days compared to a control group (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995).”
Self-citationDifferential effects of worry and imagery after exposure to a stressful stimulus: A pilot study
Butler, G., Wells, A., & Dewick, H. (1995) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465800017628 · Cited by 145 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Studies using exposure to analogue stress have demonstrated that worrying about a stressor has an incubative effect on the frequency of stress-related images over the next three days compared to a control group (Butler, Wells, & Dewick, 1995 ; Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995 ).”
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Advances in metacognitive therapy
Wells, A. (2013) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1521/ijct.2013.6.2.186 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Metacognition, memory disorganization and rumination in posttraumatic stress symptoms
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Are there specific metacognitive processes associated with anxiety disorders in youth?
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- Authors
- Roussis, P., & Wells, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- University of Manchester
- Venue
- Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 213-225
- ISSN
- 1061-5806 (ISSN-L)
- 1477-2205
- OpenAlex
- W2073787520
- Cited by
- 83
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 8.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Anxiety Stress & Coping (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- metacognition, thought control, worry, stress symptoms, stress exposure, university students
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, United Kingdom, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Psychological Theory, Regression Analysis, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological, Students
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