The Relationships between Metacognitive Beliefs and Personality Dysfunction: A Test Controlling for Personality Traits, Emotional Distress Symptoms and General Functioning

Abstract

Personality dysfunction operationalized as impairment in self- and interpersonal functioning is a characteristic of personality disorders. The metacognitive model suggests that dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs are a common cause of psychological disorders, but the relevance and importance of metacognitions for personality dysfunction is less explored and was the objective for the current study. In a sample of 1278 individuals, we conducted a multiple hierarchical regression analysis to test the predictive role of metacognitive beliefs for personality dysfunction. We found a unique and independent contribution from negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of worry and lower cognitive confidence to personality dysfunction whilst controlling age, gender, maladaptive personality traits, big-5 personality traits, emotional distress symptoms, and general psychosocial functioning. The results bring further support for the metacognitive model of psychological disorders which may be relevant for formulation and treatment of personality dysfunction and disorder.