Abstract
The Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model predicts that dysfunctional metacognitions are fundamental to the development
and maintenance of emotional disorder, as they contribute to a perseverative style of processing: the Cognitive Attentional
Syndrome (CAS). The aim of this study was to test the relationship between dysfunctional metacognitions and attentional bias
(a component of the CAS), in the context of health anxiety. 158 undergraduate students read information on health risks as
part of a health anxiety induction before completing an emotional Stroop task, and a number of questionnaires. Although the
health anxiety induction may not have been successful, health-specific metacognitions were associated with attentional bias
for health-related words, positive words, and also a greater bias for positive words when they were related to health (rather
than general). Only one dimension of general metacognitions (“negative beliefs about worry, concerning uncontrollability and
danger”) was associated with attentional bias. Findings are discussed in relation to the predictions of the S-REF model, and
directions for future research are outlined.
and maintenance of emotional disorder, as they contribute to a perseverative style of processing: the Cognitive Attentional
Syndrome (CAS). The aim of this study was to test the relationship between dysfunctional metacognitions and attentional bias
(a component of the CAS), in the context of health anxiety. 158 undergraduate students read information on health risks as
part of a health anxiety induction before completing an emotional Stroop task, and a number of questionnaires. Although the
health anxiety induction may not have been successful, health-specific metacognitions were associated with attentional bias
for health-related words, positive words, and also a greater bias for positive words when they were related to health (rather
than general). Only one dimension of general metacognitions (“negative beliefs about worry, concerning uncontrollability and
danger”) was associated with attentional bias. Findings are discussed in relation to the predictions of the S-REF model, and
directions for future research are outlined.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Brief Report
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-011-9387-6
- Authors
- Amar Kaur, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Brennan MacCallum Building (A18), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Phyllis Butow, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Belinda Thewes, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916