Metacognitive beliefs and general health among college students

Metacognition is a multi-dimensional concept including knowledge, processes, and strategies for appraisal, monitoring, and control of cognition. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between general health and metacognitive beliefs in students. One hundred students (44 males and 56 females) were selected from faculty of psychology of Karaj Islamic Azad University using cluster-random sampling. All of the subjects were asked to answer demographic questions and the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) as well as Wells and Cartwright metacognitive questionnaire. The data were analyzed by multivariate regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Research findings showed significant positive relationships between metacognitive beliefs and general health. In other words, individuals with higher scores in metacognitive scale revealed worse general health status. There was also a significant relationship between total scores of both scales and scores on uncontrollability, positive beliefs, cognitive confidence and need to control thoughts (P<0.001); however, no significant relationship was seen between those and cognitive self-consciousness score. A person’s score on metacognitive uncontrollability variable is the best predictor of his or her general health status. Metacognitive beliefs are effective factors in general health. Also, it is possible to promote students’ mental health by changing metacognition beliefs which enhance maladaptive and negative thinking styles or general negative beliefs.