Discussion

The goal of this study was to determine whether metacognitions mediated the relationship between negative emotions and PIU. The results of the correlation analyses indicated positive and significant correlations between all dimensions of metacognition and PIU. In accord with research evidence positive and significant correlations were identified between PIU, anxiety, depression and boredom. The results of structural equation modeling supported the mediation hypothesis, suggesting that mediation is complete. These findings, taken together suggest that the basic premise of the (Wells and Matthews, 1994) and Wells and Matthews, 1996) metacognitive model of psychological disorder may be extended to PIU.

Why should the metacognitive dimensions identified be relevant? Two of the domains (positive beliefs about worry, and cognitive confidence) represent metacognitive knowledge about the usefulness of perseverative thinking as a coping strategy, and the ineffectiveness of memory and judgment. Overall these variables may reflect diminished confidence in coping and a need to anticipate problems (through worry and rumination) in order to function. If we are correct in assuming that these are a marker for low metacognitive confidence, then they would contribute to PIU because the Internet can provide information to reduce metacognitive discomfort. Examples may include searching for information on the specific symptoms of a disease because one believes that worrying is a helpful strategy to cope with intrusive thoughts (e.g. about disease), or searching for information regarding train times because of one’s lack of trust in his or her own mnemonic capabilities. In addition, it is possible to postulate that negative beliefs about worry concerning uncontrollability, beliefs about the need to control thoughts, and high self-consciousness taken together are a marker for the tendency to monitor and control intrusive thoughts. In turn, the strategies that are employed to control intrusive thoughts, if maladaptive (e.g. perseverative thinking and thought suppression), will lead to an increase in the accessibility of negative information about the self and a greater likelihood of utilizing the Internet to regulate one’s emotional state.

The MCQ-30 was not intended to specifically capture metacognitions in PIU, and only preliminary inferences about the nature of their statistical contribution can be made at the present time. However, the data do support the potentially ubiquitous contribution of metacognition to perseverative and unhealthy forms of cognition and behavior, by demonstrating relationships with PIU. The finding that metacognitions fully mediate the relationship between negative emotions and PIU extends conceptualizations of the problem that are based on a direct link between negative emotions and PIU.

The results of this study must be considered with regard to design limitations. Firstly a cross-sectional design was adopted and this does not allow causal inferences. Secondly social desirability, self-report biases, context effects, and poor recall may have contributed to errors in self-report measurements. Finally the sample consisted only of university students and potential confounders such as socio-economic status and education were not controlled for. Thus, whilst the present findings can be generalised to PIU they will need to be verified by examining individuals from a wider age range and controlling for background variables. Future research will have to ascertain the role of metacognitions in the predisposition towards, and maintenance of, PIU through longitudinal designs. Finally, efforts will have to be directed towards investigating the influence of PIU on metacognitions. This could be accomplished, for example, by ascertaining whether metacognitions differ between problem and non-problem Internet users.

Despite the above limitations, we believe the present findings provide the basis for developing a metacognitive understanding of PIU.

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Marcantonio M. Spada, Benjamin Langston, Ana V. Nikcevic and Giovanni B. Moneta

School of Human and Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, United Kingdom
Unit of Psychology, Kingston University, Kingston – Upon - Thames, UK
Department of Psychology, London Metropolitan University, London, UK

Computers in Human Behavior
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