The Influence of Hated Self on Relationships Between Metacognitive Beliefs, Self-Critical Rumination, Decentering and Psychopathology

Two studies explored whether Hated Self and Inadequate Self forms of self-criticism demonstrate different relationships to self-critical rumination (SCR), metacognitive beliefs, decentering and psychopathology. In study 1, 137 community participants experiencing SCR completed an online questionnaire battery. Self-hate was associated with higher SCR, stronger positive and negative metabeliefs about SCR, higher psychopathology and nonreactivity to internal experiences. Effects of Inadequate Self on psychopathology were fully mediated by SCR whereas Hated Self exerted direct effects on psychopathology alongside indirect effects via SCR. Study 2 explored whether higher self-hate attenuated the ability to detach from SCR triggers. Twenty-three participants received a single-session detached mindfulness intervention; pre-post changes in study 1 questionnaires and daily diary ratings of study 1 constructs in the week before and after the intervention were compared. Most measures improved; higher self-hate was not associated with reduced response. Although self-hate confers risk for psychopathology outside SCR, metacognitive interventions both undermine uncontrollability beliefs and facilitate decentering, so should continue to be investigated as interventions for SCR.