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Journals / Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 55 Sayı: 2

The Role of Negative Automatic Thoughts and Metacognitions in Explaining Social Anxiety

Sosyal Kaygının Açıklanmasında Olumsuz Otomatik Düşünceler ile Üstbilişlerin Rolü

Ayşe Vuslat Çopuroğlu, Fatma Altun Kobul, Hikmet Yazıcı

Pages
759–779
Publication Date
2026-08-31
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Abstract

This study examines the unique and combined predictive levels of negative automatic thoughts and metacognitive beliefs regarding social anxiety symptoms. The research included 424 participants (255 females, 169 males). Findings from regression models revealed that metacognitive beliefs accounted for 23% of the variance in social anxiety, while automatic thoughts accounted for 22%. When both automatic thoughts and metacognitions were included in the model simultaneously, they jointly explained 29% of the variance in social anxiety. Among the automatic thoughts, Self-Oriented Automatic Thoughts (β= .29, p< .001) and Loneliness (β= .34, p< .001) were significant predictors. In terms of metacognitive variables, the Need for Thought Control (β= .48, p< .001) and Cognitive Awareness (β= -.11, p < .001) significantly predicted social anxiety symptoms. When both automatic thoughts and metacognitive beliefs were included in the model together, only the Need for Thought Control (β= .35, p< .001) remained a significant predictor of social anxiety symptoms. The results indicate that negative automatic thoughts and metacognitive beliefs explain social anxiety at similar levels, with the Need for Thought Control showing the strongest statistical impact. This finding is significant for future research and intervention strategies.

Özet

Bu çalışma ile olumsuz otomatik düşünceler ile üstbilişlerin sosyal kaygı belirtilerinin açıklanmasındaki özgün ve birlikte yordayıcılık düzeyleri incelenmeye çalışılmaktadır. Çalışma 424 kişi üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir (Kadın=255, Erkek=169). Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular, Kurulan regresyon modellerinde tek başına üstbilişlerin, sosyal kaygı ile ilgili varyansın %23’ünü, otomatik düşüncelerin ise %22’sini açıkladığı tespit edilmiştir. Otomatik düşünceler ve üstbilişler modele birlikte dahil edildiğinde sosyal kaygı ile ilgili varyansın %29’unu açıkladıkları belirlenmiştir. Otomatik düşüncelerden Kendine Yönelik Otomatik Düşünceler (β= .29, p< .001) ve Yalnızlığın (β= .34, p< .001) üstbiliş değişkenlerinden ise Düşünceleri Kontrol İhtiyacı (β= .48, p< .001) ve Bilişsel Farkındalığın (β= -.11, p< .001) sosyal kaygı belirtilerinin anlamlı yordayıcıları olduğu bulunmuştur. Olumsuz otomatik düşünceler ve üstbilişler modele birlikte dahil edildiklerinde ise; Otomatik düşüncelerden Kendine Yönelik Otomatik Düşünceler (β= .22, p< .05) ve Yalnızlığın (β= .25, p< .01) üstbiliş değişkenlerinden ise sadece Düşünceleri Kontrol İhtiyacının (β= .35, p< .001) sosyal kaygı belirtilerinin anlamlı yordayıcıları olduğu bulunmuştur. Araştırma sonucunda olumsuz otomatik düşüncelerin ve üstbilişlerin sosyal kaygıyı benzer düzeyde açıkladığı görülmüştür. Bununla birlikte üst biliş ölçeğinin alt boyutlarından Düşünceleri Kontrol İhtiyacının sosyal kaygıyı yordamada en güçlü istatistiksel etkiye sahip olması ileriki araştırmalar ve müdahale çalışmaları açısından dikkat çekici bir bulgu olarak değerlendirilmektedir.

Keywords
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Cite This Article

Çopuroğlu, A. V., Kobul, F. A., Yazıcı, H. (2026). The Role of Negative Automatic Thoughts and Metacognitions in Explaining Social Anxiety. Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 55 Sayı: 2, 759–779. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.1678635

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