An Empirical Test of a Metacognitive Model of d Rumination and Depression in Non-clinical Population

The present study aimed to test the structural relationship between rumination, metacognitive beliefs and depressive symptoms according to wells and Matthews (1994) the Self- Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model of emotional disorders in non-clinical samples. Four hundreds and one male and female students (Mean=21.01, SD=1.96) were selected and answered the rumination questionnaire, metacognitive beliefs scale, positive metacognitive beliefs scale, negative metacognitive beliefs scale and beck depression questionnaire. Results showed that metacognitive model of depression and rumination in nonclinical population has good fitness. However, the relationships between components of model in a non-clinical sample were slightly different from clinical population. In non-clinical population, rumination directly and indirectly were associated with depression, that is opposite of findings in clinical samples in which metacognitive beliefs mediate the relationship between rumination and depression. Also the results showed that in nonclinical samples, rumination affect depression only through activation of negative beliefs about uncontrollability and harm rather than beliefs related to social consequences. The results of this study support the applicability of metacognitive model of depression in non-clinical population.