Prediction of Psychological Well-being and Psychological Distress in college ‎students based on components of Metacognitive beliefs

components of Metacognitive beliefs. In a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive design, 224 college students, 116 female and 108 male students, in Semnan University were selected through simple random sampling, and completed the Demographical Information Questionnaire, Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38), and Metacognitions Questionnaire(MCQ-30). The data were analyzed through correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results showed that there was a significant negative relationship between positive beliefs about worry, beliefs about Uncontrollability and danger of thoughts, beliefs about the need in controlling the Thoughts, cognitive self-consciousness and psychological well-being. Furthermore, there was a significant positive relationship between the above mentioned variables and psychological distress. Beliefs about the need in controlling the thoughts, beliefs about Uncontrollability and danger of thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness are capable of predicting psychological well-being in college students; they, in total, account for 32% of psychological well-being. Cognitive self-consciousness, beliefs about Uncontrollability and danger of thoughts, and positive beliefs about worry are capable of predicting psychological distress in college students; they, in total, account for 36% of psychological distress. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that positive beliefs about worry, beliefs about Uncontrollability and danger of thoughts, beliefs about the need in controlling the thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness are important factors in decreasing psychological well-being and in increasing psychological distress in college students.