The Metacognitions about Binge Eating Questionnaire: Investigation of the association between specific metacognitions and Binge Eating Disorder

Abstract

Literature suggested that metacognitions are involved in eating problems and may be relevant to the understanding of Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The goal of the current studies was to develop the first self-report instrument on metacognitions about binge eating. In Study 1, a community sample completed the Metacognitions about Binge Eating Questionnaire (MBEQ); an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed. In study 2, a community sample completed the MBEQ and measures assessing severity of binge eating, irrational food beliefs, anxiety, depression, impulsiveness. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed. Concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. In study 3, a clinical sample of participants with a diagnosis of BED completed the MBEQ and other measures. Bivariate correlational analysis and hierarchical linear regression were performed. Participants from the general population and participants with a diagnosis of BED were compared. EFA and CFA supported a two-factor solution consisting of positive and negative metacognitions about binge eating. Concurrent and incremental validity were acceptable. The metacognitions factors correlated positively with anxiety, depression, irrational food beliefs, impulsiveness in the community sample, and anxiety, irrational food beliefs, impulsiveness in clinical sample. The metacognitions factors contributed to the prediction of BEDs symptoms, in community and clinical samples, over and above age, gender, impulsiveness, anxiety, depression, irrational food beliefs. The MBEQ possesses good psychometric properties and appears a reliable and valid measure of positive and negative metacognitions about binge eating. Metacognitions about binge eating could be a therapeutic target to reduce the severity of binge eating episodes.

A systematic review of the relationship between generic and specific metacognitive beliefs and emotion dysregulation: A metacognitive model of emotion dysregulation

“…(1) generic metacognitive beliefs about internal cognitive-affective experiences and their significance (e.g., 'I need to control my thoughts at all times'; 'I need to feel upset sometimes in order to function well'); (2) metacognitive beliefs about cognitive-affective selfregulatory strategies, that in turn are divided into two main subtypes, that is, positive metacognitive beliefs pertaining to the benefits of engaging in specific strategies to control cognitive-affective state (e.g., 'If I worry I will be prepared') and negative metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of strategies to control cognitive-affective states and the detrimental derivates of employing such strategies (e.g., 'I cannot control my ruminative thoughts'; 'Feeling upset is uncontrollable'); consistently in this field of research, specific metacognitive beliefs related to problematic behaviours (e.g., alcohol use, smoking, gambling, binge eating) have been also identified (Hamonniere & Varescon, 2018;Palmieri et al, 2023a).…”

“…Research undertaken over the last 15 years has underlined the possible role of metacognitive beliefs as etiological and maintenance mechanisms of psychological distress and a wide range of psychological disorders including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder, stress-related disorder, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, the spectrum of addictive behaviours and personality disorders (Hamonniere & Varescon, 2018;Lenzo et al, 2020;Mansueto et al, 2016Mansueto et al, , 2019Palmieri et al, 2021Palmieri et al, , 2023aRogier et al, 2021;Sellers et al, 2017;Spada et al, 2015Spada et al, , 2021Sun et al, 2017).…”

“…The S‐REF model proposed that psychological disorders were linked to maladaptive metacognitive beliefs, that is, beliefs that individuals hold about their own internal states (i.e., cognitions, thoughts and emotions) and about coping strategies that impact on it (Wells & Matthews, 1994, 1996). Metacognitive beliefs (also termed ‘metacognitions’) can be broadly divided into two main typologies (Spada et al, 2015; Wells & Matthews, 1994, 1996): (1) generic metacognitive beliefs about internal cognitive–affective experiences and their significance (e.g., ‘I need to control my thoughts at all times’; ‘I need to feel upset sometimes in order to function well’); (2) metacognitive beliefs about cognitive–affective self‐regulatory strategies, that in turn are divided into two main subtypes, that is, positive metacognitive beliefs pertaining to the benefits of engaging in specific strategies to control cognitive–affective state (e.g., ‘If I worry I will be prepared’) and negative metacognitive beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of strategies to control cognitive–affective states and the detrimental derivates of employing such strategies (e.g., ‘I cannot control my ruminative thoughts’; ‘Feeling upset is uncontrollable’); consistently in this field of research, specific metacognitive beliefs related to problematic behaviours (e.g., alcohol use, smoking, gambling, binge eating) have been also identified (Hamonniere & Varescon, 2018; Palmieri et al, 2023a). Research undertaken over the last 15 years has underlined the possible role of metacognitive beliefs as etiological and maintenance mechanisms of psychological distress and a wide range of psychological disorders including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, stress‐related disorder, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, the spectrum of addictive behaviours and personality disorders (Hamonniere & Varescon, 2018; Lenzo et al, 2020; Mansueto et al, 2016, 2019; Palmieri et al, 2021, 2023a; Rogier et al, 2021; Sellers et al, 2017; Spada et al, 2015, 2021; Sun et al, 2017).…”