The role of metacognitive beliefs versus meta-emotion beliefs in disordered eating

ABSTRACT Objective Emerging research has revealed that metacognitive beliefs (i.e., beliefs about cognition) and meta-emotion beliefs (i.e., beliefs about emotions) may play a role in disordered eating behaviour. This study aims to compare the strength of the associations between metacognitive beliefs and meta-emotion beliefs with disordered eating behaviours in a non-clinical sample. Method An Australian community sample (N = 411) completed an online questionnaire measuring disordered eating behaviours (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-18), metacognitive beliefs (Metacognitions Questionnaire-30) and meta-emotion beliefs (Beliefs About Emotions Questionnaire). The independent associations between metacognitive and meta-emotion beliefs with disordered eating were tested using hierarchical multiple regression. Results Only Cognitive Self-consciousness was weakly independently associated with Cognitive Restraint. The belief that emotions are overwhelming and uncontrollable was moderately independently associated with Uncontrolled Eating and Emotional Eating. Metacognitive beliefs about cognitions were not independently associated with the three disordered eating behaviours measured in this study. Conclusions Meta-emotion beliefs, or beliefs about emotions, have stronger unique associations with uncontrolled and emotional eating than metacognitive beliefs. Future longitudinal and intervention studies should focus on measuring beliefs about emotions to further understand their role in disordered eating behaviours. KEY POINTS What is already known on this topic: (1) There is emerging evidence to suggest that metacognitive beliefs are associated with disordered eating behaviour. (2) Qualitative evidence has shown support for the role of meta-emotions, or beliefs about emotions, in eating disorders. What this paper adds: (1) Neither metacognitive beliefs nor meta-emotion beliefs are strongly associated with cognitive restraint eating behaviour. (2) Metacognitive beliefs appear to not be independently associated with uncontrolled eating or emotional eating. Rather, these eating behaviours appear to be strongly associated with negative beliefs that emotions are overwhelming and uncontrollable. (3) The link between meta-emotion beliefs and emotional eating and uncontrolled eating may help explain their reactive eating behaviour in response to emotions.