The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency
The Attentional Control Theory (ACT) posits that, while trait anxiety may not directly impact performance, it can influence processing efficiency by prompting the use of compensatory mechanisms. The specific nature of these mechanisms, which might be reflective, is not detailed by the ACT. In a stud...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/3/34 |
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| author | François-Xavier Cécillon Martial Mermillod Christophe Leys Hippolyte Bastin Jean-Philippe Lachaux Rebecca Shankland |
| author_facet | François-Xavier Cécillon Martial Mermillod Christophe Leys Hippolyte Bastin Jean-Philippe Lachaux Rebecca Shankland |
| author_sort | François-Xavier Cécillon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Attentional Control Theory (ACT) posits that, while trait anxiety may not directly impact performance, it can influence processing efficiency by prompting the use of compensatory mechanisms. The specific nature of these mechanisms, which might be reflective, is not detailed by the ACT. In a study involving 110 students (M = 20.12; SD = 2.10), surveys were administered to assess the students’ metacognitive beliefs, trait anxiety, and emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). The participants engaged in two working memory exercises: the digit span task from the WAIS-IV and an emotional n-back task. The findings indicated that anxiety, metacognitive beliefs, and maladaptive ERSs did not affect task performance but were correlated with increased response times. Several regression analyses demonstrated that a lack of confidence in one’s cognitive abilities and maladaptive ERSs predict higher reaction times (RT) in the n-back task. Additionally, maladaptive ERSs also predict an increased use of strategies in the digit span task. Finally, two mediation analyses revealed that anxiety increases processing efficiency, and this relation is mediated by the use of maladaptive ERSs. These results underscore the importance of the reflective level in mediating the effects of trait anxiety on efficiency. They highlight the necessity of incorporating metacognitive beliefs and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies for a thorough comprehension of the Attentional Control Theory. Recognizing these factors offers valuable perspectives for enhancing cognitive capabilities and fostering academic achievement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:22:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-404fc74ccf7f408497e904d6585ace72 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:22:12Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-404fc74ccf7f408497e904d6585ace722024-03-27T13:34:35ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252024-02-0114350553010.3390/ejihpe14030034The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory EfficiencyFrançois-Xavier Cécillon0Martial Mermillod1Christophe Leys2Hippolyte Bastin3Jean-Philippe Lachaux4Rebecca Shankland5Laboratoire Développement Individu Processus Handicap Education, Université Lumière Lyon 2, 5, Avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 69676 Bron, CEDEX, FranceLaboratoire Psychologie et NeuroCognition, CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, FranceFaculté de Psychologie, Sciences de l’Education et Logopédie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 50-CP191, 1050 Bruxelles, BelgiumLaboratoire Développement Individu Processus Handicap Education, Université Lumière Lyon 2, 5, Avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 69676 Bron, CEDEX, FranceCentre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Bâtiment 452—95 Bd Pinel, 69500 Bron, FranceLaboratoire Développement Individu Processus Handicap Education, Université Lumière Lyon 2, 5, Avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 69676 Bron, CEDEX, FranceThe Attentional Control Theory (ACT) posits that, while trait anxiety may not directly impact performance, it can influence processing efficiency by prompting the use of compensatory mechanisms. The specific nature of these mechanisms, which might be reflective, is not detailed by the ACT. In a study involving 110 students (M = 20.12; SD = 2.10), surveys were administered to assess the students’ metacognitive beliefs, trait anxiety, and emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). The participants engaged in two working memory exercises: the digit span task from the WAIS-IV and an emotional n-back task. The findings indicated that anxiety, metacognitive beliefs, and maladaptive ERSs did not affect task performance but were correlated with increased response times. Several regression analyses demonstrated that a lack of confidence in one’s cognitive abilities and maladaptive ERSs predict higher reaction times (RT) in the n-back task. Additionally, maladaptive ERSs also predict an increased use of strategies in the digit span task. Finally, two mediation analyses revealed that anxiety increases processing efficiency, and this relation is mediated by the use of maladaptive ERSs. These results underscore the importance of the reflective level in mediating the effects of trait anxiety on efficiency. They highlight the necessity of incorporating metacognitive beliefs and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies for a thorough comprehension of the Attentional Control Theory. Recognizing these factors offers valuable perspectives for enhancing cognitive capabilities and fostering academic achievement.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/3/34attentional control theoryexecutive functionanxietyemotion regulationmetacognitive beliefworking memory |
| spellingShingle | François-Xavier Cécillon Martial Mermillod Christophe Leys Hippolyte Bastin Jean-Philippe Lachaux Rebecca Shankland The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education attentional control theory executive function anxiety emotion regulation metacognitive belief working memory |
| title | The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency |
| title_full | The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency |
| title_fullStr | The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency |
| title_short | The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency |
| title_sort | reflective mind of the anxious in action metacognitive beliefs and maladaptive emotional regulation strategies constrain working memory efficiency |
| topic | attentional control theory executive function anxiety emotion regulation metacognitive belief working memory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/14/3/34 |
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