Differentiation of self and its relationship with metacognitions about worry and anxiety

Abstract

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In the present study, the relationship between differentiation of self, metacognitions about worry, and state and trait anxiety is analyzed. The research involved 384 Spanish participants, aged between 18 and 89 years, who answered the Differentiation of Self Scale-Revised (DSS-R), the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). In the study, of a cross-sectional correlational type, Pearson correlations were performed to analyze the relationships between differentiation of self, metacognitions about worry and anxiety. Furthermore, two stepwise linear regressions were carried out to explore the predictive role of differentiation of self dimensions on metacognitions about worry and trait anxiety. The results showed significant relationships between differentiation of self, metacognitions about worry, and state and trait anxiety. Likewise, emotional reactivity, dominance over others and emotional cutoff predicted metacognitions about worry, and emotional reactivity and fusion with others predicted trait anxiety.