Author: Fatima Chohan
Supervisor: Rukhsana Kausar, PhD
Degree: MS Health
Year: 2013-2015
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present research aimed to explore metacognitive beliefs, meta- emotions and dysfunctional eating in university students. It was hypothesized that there would be a relationship between metacognitions, meta-emotions and dysfunctional eating in boys and girls; gender would be moderate the relationship between metacognitions, meta-emotions and dysfunctional eating; there would be gender differences in metacognitions, meta-emotions and dysfunctional eating. Correlational research design was used. The sample of 200 university students including both boys (n = 100) and girls (n = 100) was selected from different departments of Government College University and University of the Punjab, Lahore. Metacognitions Questionnaire (Wells & Cartwright, 2004), Beliefs about Emotions Questionnaire (Manser et.al, 2011) and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (Karlsson, Persson, Sjostrom, & Sullivan, 2000) were used to assess studied variables. Correlation, hierarchical regression and independent samples t-test were conducted to analyze data. Cognitive restraint had a significant positive relationship with cognitive confidence in boys and with positive beliefs, need to control thought and contagious emotions in girls. Uncontrolled eating had a significant positive relationship with negative beliefs, cognitive confidence in both boys and girls and had a positive relationship with overwhelming and contagious emotions in boys and shameful emotions in girls. Emotional eating had a significant positive relationship with cognitive confidence and cognitive consciousness in boys and with cognitive confidence and invalid emotion in girls. Gender did not moderate the relationship between metacognition, meta-emotions and dysfunctional eating. The findings of this study will help to design intervention strategies for students to improve their dysfunctional eating patterns.
Keywords: Metacognitive beliefs, meta-emotions, dysfunctional eating, university students.
Visit University to get the full thesis.
Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
