Metacognition, emotion, and alcohol dependence in college students: A moderated mediation model

Based on Wells and Matthews' (1994) theory of psychological dysfunction and prior empirical studies, it was hypothesized that negative emotion would mediate the relationship between maladaptive metacognition and alcohol dependence, and maladaptive metacognition would moderate the relationship between negative emotion and alcohol dependence. A sample of 300 British college students completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire 30. Metacognitive traits, emotions, and alcohol dependence were positively intercorrelated. Moderated mediation modeling indicated that metacognition fosters emotion and moderates the relationship between emotion and alcohol dependence in such a way that emotion and dependence are positively associated for high metacognition and are negatively associated for low metacognition. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Research Highlights
► Prior studies found that negative emotion correlates with alcohol dependence symptoms.
► The present study found that maladaptive metacognition moderates the relationship.
► The relationship is positive for high metacognition, negative for low metacognition.
► The findings suggest that metacognition drives coping in response to negative emotion.