Do Parental Psychopathology and Higher‐Order Beliefs Predict Symptom Changes in Young People Following Metacognitive Therapy?
Saved in:
| Title: | Do Parental Psychopathology and Higher‐Order Beliefs Predict Symptom Changes in Young People Following Metacognitive Therapy? |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Thingbak, Anne (AUTHOR), Hudson, Jennifer L. (AUTHOR), Wells, Adrian (AUTHOR), O'Toole, Mia Skytte (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. Jul/Aug2025, Vol. 32 Issue 4, p1-13. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Anxiety disorders treatment, Cross-sectional method, Secondary analysis, Research funding, Children of parents with disabilities, Parent-child relationships, Treatment effectiveness, Descriptive statistics, Attention, Psychology of parents, Anxiety disorders, Data analysis software, Cognition, Behavior therapy, Mental depression, Pathological psychology, Psychosocial factors |
| Abstract: | Preliminary evidence indicates that metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a promising treatment in children and adolescents; however, little is known about the influence of parental factors on MCT outcomes. Based on secondary analyses from a recent trial of MCT in young people with anxiety and depressive disorders, the aim of this study was to evaluate cross‐sectional associations between child and parental symptoms, metacognitive beliefs and attention control beliefs and whether such parent variables predicted symptom scores following MCT. The sample consisted of 97 children and adolescents aged 10–17 years (M = 12.85 ± 1.9, 82.5% females) and their parents (n = 145, 57.9% mothers). The majority of the sample had a primary anxiety disorder (n = 96). Participants received eight sessions of MCT in transdiagnostic groups. The majority of baseline correlations were small and non‐significant with some exceptions. Small significant relationships emerged between maternal attention shifting and child attention shifting, total attention control and symptoms. Also, child depressive symptoms were associated with maternal anxiety, maternal cognitive self‐consciousness, and paternal attention control beliefs, with small to moderate effects. Parental factors did not predict symptom scores at post‐treatment nor at 6‐month follow‐up. The findings should be considered preliminary and seen in light of the overall good mental health of the parents. If results are replicated in the future with broader samples, it suggests that MCT outcomes in young people may have little association with the symptoms and higher‐order beliefs of parents. Trial Registration: AsPredicted number: 152970 Summary: Little is known about the effects of parental factors on MCT outcomes.We evaluated relationships between child and parental psychopathology, metacognitive beliefs, and attention control beliefs.Results revealed predominantly small and non‐significant baseline associations between child and parent measures.Significant baseline associations were found between specific child and maternal symptoms and attention control beliefs; and between child symptoms and specific higher‐order beliefs of parents.Parental factors did not predict changes in symptoms or diagnostic status following MCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Preliminary evidence indicates that metacognitive therapy (MCT) is a promising treatment in children and adolescents; however, little is known about the influence of parental factors on MCT outcomes. Based on secondary analyses from a recent trial of MCT in young people with anxiety and depressive disorders, the aim of this study was to evaluate cross‐sectional associations between child and parental symptoms, metacognitive beliefs and attention control beliefs and whether such parent variables predicted symptom scores following MCT. The sample consisted of 97 children and adolescents aged 10–17 years (M = 12.85 ± 1.9, 82.5% females) and their parents (n = 145, 57.9% mothers). The majority of the sample had a primary anxiety disorder (n = 96). Participants received eight sessions of MCT in transdiagnostic groups. The majority of baseline correlations were small and non‐significant with some exceptions. Small significant relationships emerged between maternal attention shifting and child attention shifting, total attention control and symptoms. Also, child depressive symptoms were associated with maternal anxiety, maternal cognitive self‐consciousness, and paternal attention control beliefs, with small to moderate effects. Parental factors did not predict symptom scores at post‐treatment nor at 6‐month follow‐up. The findings should be considered preliminary and seen in light of the overall good mental health of the parents. If results are replicated in the future with broader samples, it suggests that MCT outcomes in young people may have little association with the symptoms and higher‐order beliefs of parents. Trial Registration: AsPredicted number: 152970 Summary: Little is known about the effects of parental factors on MCT outcomes.We evaluated relationships between child and parental psychopathology, metacognitive beliefs, and attention control beliefs.Results revealed predominantly small and non‐significant baseline associations between child and parent measures.Significant baseline associations were found between specific child and maternal symptoms and attention control beliefs; and between child symptoms and specific higher‐order beliefs of parents.Parental factors did not predict changes in symptoms or diagnostic status following MCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 10633995 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/cpp.70122 |
