Meng Xuan Zhang1, Louisa S M Lei2, Adrian Wells3, Le Dang4, Anise M S Wu5. 1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, China. 2. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China. 3. School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, China; Faculty of Teacher Education, Pingdingshan University, South Weilai Road, Xinhua District, Pingdingshan, Henan, China. 5. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, China. Electronic address: anisewu@um.edu.mo.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the short form of Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30), which is an effective tool to assess metacognitive beliefs that have been linked to mental disturbance/disorder. We also tested whether metacognition factors would correlate with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) tendency. METHODS: Six hundred and eighty Chinese university students (Mean age=19.72, SD=1.38; 31.9% male) voluntarily completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Using standard translation procedures, the MCQ-30 items were translated from English into Chinese language and then back-translated. Depression, anxiety, and IGD tendency were assessed by validated scales. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the five-factor structure of the MCQ-30, with satisfactory model fit and good reliability. Criterion-related validity was also supported by significant positive correlations between the five factors and depression/anxiety symptoms. All of the five metacognition factors were also significantly correlated with IGD tendency, with positive beliefs about worry and cognitive confidence being the most salient factor after controlling for gender and age. LIMITATIONS: This study did not examine the test-retest reliability of this scale, and the generalizability of the findings to other age groups remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed satisfactory psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the MCQ-30 and is the first to demonstrate a positive association between specific metacognition factors and IGD tendency among Chinese people. The latter finding supports an application of metacognitive therapy to the treatment of behavioral addictions, including IGD.
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the short form of Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30), which is an effective tool to assess metacognitive beliefs that have been linked to mental disturbance/disorder. We also tested whether metacognition factors would correlate with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) tendency. METHODS: Six hundred and eighty Chinese university students (Mean age=19.72, SD=1.38; 31.9% male) voluntarily completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Using standard translation procedures, the MCQ-30 items were translated from English into Chinese language and then back-translated. Depression, anxiety, and IGD tendency were assessed by validated scales. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the five-factor structure of the MCQ-30, with satisfactory model fit and good reliability. Criterion-related validity was also supported by significant positive correlations between the five factors and depression/anxiety symptoms. All of the five metacognition factors were also significantly correlated with IGD tendency, with positive beliefs about worry and cognitive confidence being the most salient factor after controlling for gender and age. LIMITATIONS: This study did not examine the test-retest reliability of this scale, and the generalizability of the findings to other age groups remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed satisfactory psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the MCQ-30 and is the first to demonstrate a positive association between specific metacognition factors and IGD tendency among Chinese people. The latter finding supports an application of metacognitive therapy to the treatment of behavioral addictions, including IGD.
Authors: Pan Pan Xiao; Si Qing Ding; Ying Long Duan; Xiao Fei Luo; Yi Zhou; Qin Qin Cheng; Xiang Yu Liu; Jian Fei Xie; Andy Sk Cheng Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-09-27