Metacognitive Beliefs, Emerging Adulthood Identity, and Mediating Role of Mental Health: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Background: The mental health of young people is highly influenced by the identity exploration processes, social origin of identity, and information processing styles. Objectives: The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of metacognitive beliefs on dimensions of emerging adulthood (EA) identity mediated by mental health in university students. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, the statistical population included all male and female, 18-25-year-old university students of the public universities of Tehran in 2020-21. The study sample consisted of 178 students selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included Arnett's Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA), Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Metacognitive beliefs was directly associated with mental health (β=0.61, P=0.001) and instability/negativity (β=0.24, P=0.010). Moreover, mental health had a significant positive association with instability/negativity (β=0.25, P=0.004) and a significant inverse association with possibilities/optimism (β=-0.23, P=0.018). The relationship between metacognitive belief with instability/negativity and possibilities/optimism was partly mediated by mental health. Conclusion: It is necessary to pay special attention to metacognitive beliefs as a factor affecting some EA dimensions such as instability/negativity and possibilities/optimism. Mental health should also be considered as the mediator in the association relationship between metacognitive beliefs and EA dimensions. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended to hold training workshops on metacognitive strategies to improve their mental health and form identity styles.