Role of Meta Cognitions in Explanation of Anxiety Symptoms

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of metacognitive theory in explaining the symptoms of anxiety among students، and to compare metacognitive belief of “need for control” between anxious and normal students. In this study، a correlational- comparative design was used. The sample consisted of 224 students of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences who were selected via cluster sampling method. The instruments used in this study consisted of Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ-30) and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Consistent with expectations، the results showed a significant positive relationship between components of metacognition (negative beliefs، positive beliefs، need for control beliefs، and cognitive confidence belief) and anxiety symptoms. The results also revealed a significant difference in the subscale of “need for control belief” between anxious and normal students، whereas higher scores in metacognitive subscales (negative beliefs، positive beliefs، need for control beliefs، and cognitive confidence belief) was positivity correlated with anxiety symptoms. Among the five components of metacognition، anxiety was best predicted by negative beliefs.