The role of the components of ambiguity intolerance and emotional schemas in predicting the metacognitive beliefs of cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients face many emotional and cognitive problems related to cancer. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the role of the components of intolerance of ambiguity and emotional schemas in predicting the metacognitive beliefs of cancer patients. METHODS: This descriptive research was conducted using a correlation method. The statistical population studied in this research consisted of all cancer patients aged 30 to 65 years who were referred to hospitals in Tehran, Iran, in 2019. The sample included 300 cancer patients who were selected intentionally and completed the questionnaires on ambiguity intolerance, emotional schemas, and metacognitive beliefs. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regressions were used in SPSS software. RESULTS: The results showed a positive and significant relationship between metacognitive beliefs and the components of ambiguity intolerance and emotional schemas (P < 0.05). Ambiguity intolerance components explain 43.7% and emotional schema components explain 46.1% of the variance in metacognitive beliefs. CONCLUSION: Cognitive factors and meta-emotional factors play a role in meta-cognitive beliefs, and their interaction with each other can increase the psychological distress of cancer patients.