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Cited by 58Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild Abuse and TraumaPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

Early Trauma, negative affect, and anxious attachment: the role of metacognition

Myers, Samuel G., Wells, Adrian·2015·Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
DOI 10.1080/10615806.2015.1009832
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metacognition is linked to the etiology and maintenance of negative emotions and psychological disorder in the Self-Regulatory Executive Function Model. Although there is significant evidence supporting the model, little is currently known about the situational factors for developing dysfunctional metacognitions. The current study explored the hypothesis that early aversive experiences might be important and also tested if metacognitions could mediate the relationship between such experiences and psychological symptoms. DESIGN AND METHODS: Three hundred and fifty non-clinical adults completed a retrospective early trauma measure, as well as measures of current metacognitive beliefs, negative affect, and anxious attachment. RESULTS: Early emotional abuse positively and significantly correlated with several metacognitive belief dimensions but other forms of early trauma did not. Metacognition fully mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and negative affect. Anxious attachment was also positively and significantly associated with metacognitive beliefs and specific relationships remained after controlling for early emotional abuse and current negative affect. CONCLUSIONS: Findings are consistent with the ideas that: (i) early negative experiences, and emotional abuse in particular, could be a factor in the formation of problematic metacognitions and (ii) these metacognitions may be important in determining the effects of abuse on subsequent psychological symptoms.

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  • Preliminary evaluations of metacognitive beliefs in children and adolescent non-clinical samples highlight that, similar to adults, metacognitive beliefs positively relate to anxiety and depression.

    “However, preliminary evaluations of metacognitive beliefs in children and adolescent non-clinical samples highlight that similar to adults, metacognitive beliefs positively relate to anxiety and depression [79, 80].”

    From Metacognitive beliefs and their relationship with anxiety and depression in physical illnesses: A systematic review (2020) · cites this paper as [79]

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Authors
Myers, S. G., & Wells, A.
Affiliations
Manchester Royal Infirmary (GB)
Corresponding author
Myers, Samuel G.
ORCID
Myers, Samuel G.
Venue
Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2015-02-27
Volume
28
Issue
6
Pages
634-649
ISSN
  • 1061-5806 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-2205
DOI
10.1080/10615806.2015.1009832
OpenAlex
W2041407245
Cited by
58
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5
FWCI
5.03
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 › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
early trauma, emotional abuse, metacognition, metacognitive beliefs, negative affect, attachment anxiety, Self-Regulatory Executive Function model, mediation, psychological symptoms, childhood adversity
MeSH terms
Metacognition, Adult, Affect, Anxiety Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Object Attachment, Surveys and Questionnaires, Retrospective Studies, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult

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