Title : Metacognitions in young and middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction: A psychometric study of the metacognitions questionnaire-30
Abstract:
Background/Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) in young and middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction in China. Additionally, it examined whether metacognitive factors are associated with the Post-traumatic Growth (PTG).
Design: A descriptive, cross?sectional study.
Methods: A cluster sampling method was used to select middle-aged and young patients with acute myocardial infarction from February to June 2024 in three grade-A hospitals in Henan Province, China as the study objects. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure, and additionally assessed reliability, construct validity, and criterion-related validity.
Results: The standard five-factor model demonstrated acceptable fit in CFA, χ2(395) = 1290.31, p?0.001, CFI = 0.800, RMSEA = 0.085, SRMR = 0.073. 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 PTG, with positive metacognitive beliefs (POS) and negative metacognitive beliefs about the danger and uncontrollability of thoughts (NEG) being the most salient factor after controlling for gender and age.
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 PTG among Chinese people. The latter finding supports an application of metacognitive therapy to the treatment of patients with affective disorders undergoing cardiac rehabilitation., including PTG.
Audience Take Away Notes
- The findings of this study suggest that the MCQ-30 scale accurately measures the psychological characteristics, specifically metacognitive levels, in young and middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Additionally, the study confirms the predictive value of metacognition as a transdiagnostic model for anxiety and depression. Our research can assist healthcare professionals in better understanding the psychological characteristics and promoting factors in young and middle-aged AMI patients, providing a reference for targeted clinical psychological care and improvements.
- This study further demonstrates that individuals' metacognitive levels are significantly associated with PTG. In other words, through purposeful introspection, patients can adopt positive strategies to cope with AMI trauma, thereby alleviating anxiety and depression. This reinforces the existing recommendation that healthcare professionals should actively implement psychosocial interventions to maximize opportunities for post-traumatic growth in young and middle-aged AMI patients.
- Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that reducing negative metacognitive beliefs may provide a foundation for experiencing post-traumatic growth. Therefore, metacognitive therapy, which aims to systematically reduce maladaptive metacognitive beliefs, may be an effective treatment for patients experiencing negative emotions during cardiac rehabilitation.
