Metacognitions across the continuum of drinking behaviour

Research has indicated that metacognitions are involved in problem drinking. To date, however, no study has investigated the presence of metacognitions about alcohol use in alcohol dependent drinkers. A sample of alcohol dependent drinkers (n = 48), problem drinkers (n = 69), and non-problem drinkers (n = 70) completed self-report measures of positive and negative metacognitions about alcohol use, negative emotion, and drinking behaviour. Results indicated that alcohol dependent drinkers scored higher than non-problem drinkers on positive metacognitions about emotional self-regulation. Alcohol dependent drinkers also scored higher than both problem drinkers and non-problem drinkers on positive metacognitions about cognitive self-regulation, negative metacognitions about uncontrollability, and negative metacognitions about cognitive harm. Furthermore on positive metacognitions about cognitive self-regulation problem drinkers scored higher than non-problem drinkers. A logistic regression analysis indicated that negative metacognitions about uncontrollability and depression were significant predictors of classification as an alcohol dependent drinker. These results are consistent with a metacognitive conceptualization of problematic drinking behaviour and further add to our understanding of the role of specific metacognitions across the continuum of drinking behaviour.