examination of metacognitive factors in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms

365 Pages·2007·4.87 MB·English

EXAMINATION OF METACOGNITIVE FACTORS IN RELATION TO
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS:
A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
OF
MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

BY

ADVİYE ESİN YILMAZ

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR
THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

SEPTEMBER 2007
Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences

_________________________

Prof. Dr. Sencer Ayata
Director

I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy.

_________________________

Prof. Dr. Nebi Sümer
Head of the Department

This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully
adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

_________________________

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülin Gençöz
Supervisor
Examining Committee Members
Prof. Dr. A. Nuray Karancı (METU, PSY) ________________________
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülin Gençöz (METU, PSY) ________________________
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Soykan (M+ PSYCH) ________________________
Prof. Dr. İhsan Dağ (HU, PSY) ________________________
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Belgin Ayvaışık (METU, PSY) ________________________
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I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and
presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare
that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all
material and results that are not original to this work.

Name, Last name: A. Esin YILMAZ

Signature :
iv

ABSTRACT

EXAMINATION OF METACOGNITIVE FACTORS IN RELATION TO
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS:
A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

Yılmaz, Adviye Esin
Ph.D., Department of Psychology
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tülin Gençöz

September 2007, 339 pages

The aim of this thesis was to examine the validity of the main concepts of
metacognitive theory in a Turkish sample and set the stage for metacognitive
research in Turkey from the clinical psychology perspective. In addition to this,
research attention was focused on two important topics remained to be empirically
validated in the metacognition literature: (1) the unique contributions of “cognitive
content” versus “metacognition” to the prediction of anxiety and depression
symptoms, and (2) the vulnerability function of metacognitions in the development
of anxiety and depression symptoms. To achieve these generic aims of the study, a
two-step research plan each of which has its own specific objectives was followed.
Data for cross-sectional and prospective parts of the study were collected from
Turkish and British non-clinical samples. In the cross-sectional part, mainly the
independent contribution of metacognitions to pathological worry, obsessive-
compulsive symptomatology, and anxiety and depressive symptoms above and
beyond the contribution of cognitive content was evaluated. By doing so, also the
relationship patterns between metacognitions and psychological symptomatology
were revealed in the Turkish sample. Consistent with the recent burgeoning of
research, the association between increased levels of metacognitions and increased
levels of anxiety and depression was shown in the Turkish sample, as well.
Moreover, metacognitive factors were found to be associated with the symptoms of
anxiety and depression independently of the relevant cognitive content. In most
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analyses, metacognitions emerged as slightly stronger predictors of a given
symptom dimension compared to the relevant cognitive content. In the prospective
part, the causal role of metacognitions following stress in the development of anxiety
and depression symptoms was examined. In the Turkish sample, higher levels of
negative beliefs about worry predicted augmentation in anxiety and depression
symptoms from Time 1 to Time 2. Besides, higher levels of lack of cognitive
confidence interacted with higher levels of daily hassles to predict intensification of
the anxiety scores. However, the British data did not support the causal role of
metacognitions in the development of anxiety and depression symptoms. The
statistical comparisons between Turkish and British samples indicated that the
Turkish sample has a tendency to score significantly higher than the British sample
on the metacognitive variables. Moreover, for all but one metacognitive factor, the
interactions with cultural group (Turkish vs. British) were not significant in
predicting psychopathology, indicating generalization of metacognitive theory to
both the Turkish and British samples. Findings of this study were well in line with
the metacognitive theory and discussed in the light of the relevant literature.

Keywords: Metacognition, Anxiety, Depression, Cross-Cultural Study, Prospective
Study
vi

ÖZ

ÜSTBİLİŞSEL FAKTÖRLERİN KAYGI VE DEPRESYON SEMPTOMLARI
AÇISINDAN İNCELENMESİ:
KÜLTÜRLERARASI BİR ÇALIŞMA

Yılmaz, Adviye Esin
Ph.D., Psikoloji Bölümü
Danışman: Doç. Dr. Tülin Gençöz

Eylül 2007, 339 sayfa

Bu tezin amacı üstbilişsel kuramın temel kavramlarının Türk örneklemindeki
geçerliğini incelemek ve ülkemizde klinik psikoloji bakış açısından yürütülecek
üstbilişsel araştırmalara zemin hazırlamaktır. Buna ek olarak, üstbiliş literatüründe
görgül olarak geçerlenmeyi bekleyen iki önemli konu üzerine odaklanılmıştır: (1)
“bilişsel içerik” ve “üstbiliş” lerin kaygı ve depresyon belirtilerinin yordanmasına
birbirinden bağımsız olarak yaptığı katkı ve (2) üstbilişlerin kaygı ve depresyon
belirtilerinin gelişmesine yatkınlık oluşturma işlevi. Çalışmanın bu genel amaçlarına
ulaşmak için, her biri kendine özgü alt amaçlara sahip iki aşamalı bir araştırma planı
izlenmiştir. Çalışmanın enlemesine kesitsel ve boylamsal kısımları için veriler, klinik
olmayan Türk ve İngiliz örneklemlerinden toplanmıştır. Enlemesine kesitsel kısımda,
temel olarak üstbilişlerin patolojik endişe, obsesif-kompulsif semptomatoloji ve
kaygı ve depresyon belirtilerine bilişsel içeriğin yaptığı katkının üzerinde ve ötesinde
olan bağımsız katkısı değerlendirilmiştir. Böylelikle, Türk örneklemindeki üstbiliş ve
psikolojik semptomatoloji arasındaki ilişki örüntüleri de açığa çıkarılmıştır. Son
dönemde hızla birikmekte olan araştırma sonuçlarıyla tutarlı olarak, üstbilişsel
düzeylerdeki artış ile kaygı ve depresyon düzeylerindeki artış arasındaki bağlantı
Türk örnekleminde de gösterilmiştir. Ayrıca, üstbilişsel faktörler ilgili bilişsel
içerikten bağımsız olarak kaygı ve depresyon belirtileri ile ilişkili bulunmuştur. Çoğu
analizde, üstbilişler bilişsel içeriğe kıyasla ilgili semptom boyutunun biraz daha
güçlü bir yordayıcısı olmuştur. Boylamsal kısımda, üstbilişin stresi takiben kaygı ve
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depresyon belirtilerinin gelişmesinde oynadığı nedensel rol incelenmiştir. Türk
örneklemindeki boylamsal analizler, endişe hakkındaki olumsuz inançlardaki artışın
kaygı ve depresyon belirtilerinde iki ölçüm zamanı arasında gözlenen artışı
yordadığını ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, bilişsel güvensizlikteki artış yüksek düzeyde
gündelik sıkıntılar yaşama ile etkileşime girerek kaygı puanlarındaki artışı
yordamaktadır. Buna karşılık, İngiliz örnekleminden toplanan veriler üstbilişlerin
kaygı ve depresyon belirtilerinin gelişimindeki nedensel rolünü desteklememiştir.
Türk ve İngiliz örneklemleri arasında yapılan istatistikî karşılaştırmalar, Türk
örnekleminin üstbiliş puanlarının İngiliz örnekleminden anlamlı olarak daha yüksek
olma eğiliminde olduğunu göstermiştir. Bunun yanısıra, biri hariç tüm diğer
üstbilişsel faktörlerin kültür grubu (Türk ve İngiliz) ile etkileşimlerinin
psikopatolojiyi yordamada anlamsız oldukları bulunmuş ve bu bulgunun üstbilişsel
kuramın Türk ve İngiliz örneklemleri arasındaki genellenebilirliğine işaret ediyor
olabileceği düşünülmüştür. Araştırma sonuçları üstbilişsel kuramla tutarlıdır ve ilgili
literatür ışığında tartışılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Üstbiliş, Kaygı, Depresyon, Kültürlerarası Çalışma, Boylamsal
Çalışma
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To My Parents
and
My Brother
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This thesis has been supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council
of Turkey (TUBITAK), in the framework of the 2214-Abroad Research Grant
Program.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Working on this thesis as well as on the doctorate as a whole, has granted me many
“meta” experiences which have led to my academic and personal growth. It has been
a challenging, fascinating, and illuminating adventure in new countries, with new
cultures, and people. The completion of this long journey, which has taken me close
to 6 years, (specifically 2190 days or 52560 hours!), was only made possible through
the help of a number of people.
I would particularly like to thank my supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Tülin
Gençöz for her continuous enthusiasm, common-sense, knowledge, and
perceptiveness during the entire preparation period of this thesis. I could not have
imagined going though the whole process without her by my side. Whenever I
needed her, she was always there with her healing touch. Her instant answers to my
detailed e-mails, practical and useful solutions to the problems, and enlightening
feedbacks on the chapter drafts helped me more than she knows, not only during my
thesis period, but also throughout my PhD years, and beyond. Dr. Tülin Gençöz is a
model of professional behaviour, providing constant support, encouragement, sound
advice, and good teaching. I am really delighted to have had the chance to be her
student.
I would like to extend my special appreciation to Professor Dr. A. Nuray Karancı for
her unflinching courage and conviction throughout my graduate education. She made
vital contributions to the progress of this thesis with her probing questions,
constructive criticism, and sage advice. What is more, she provided me with moral
support for the completion of this thesis with her “evil eye bead” which I will be
proud to carry. I would also like to express my deepest respect for her.
I wish to thank Associate Professor Dr. Çiğdem Soykan who was also a vital member
of my supervising committee, for her fruitful ideas and clinically sound advices on
the implications and discussions of the results.