Exploring the Relationship Between Metacognition, Emotional Regulation and Perceived Stress Among College Students

Abstract

Students experience stress because of difficult and demanding situations, which are related to metacognitive abilities and emotional control techniques. College students experience negative emotions frequently, which affect their capacity for metacognition. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between college students' perceptions of stress, metacognition, and emotional control. 226 college students in all, ranging in age from 18 to 35, participated in the cross-sectional study (M = 24.8, SD = 4.87). Participants completed a sociodemographic form, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire, and the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory. The study's findings showed that the majority of participants experienced moderate stress (Male= M = 32.4, SD = 5.3, Female= M = 28.7, SD = 4.9), and male students reported less mastery of metacognitive processes than female students. Additionally, a negative link between perceived stress and emotional regulation was discovered, suggesting that a low degree of emotional regulation was associated with a high level of stress. The findings further showed that higher levels of stress were associated with weaker metacognitive capacity and lower use of reappraisal as an emotional regulation method, respectively (r(224)=-.182). These results demonstrated a relationship between perceived stress, metacognitive abilities, and emotional regulation that might have significant consequences for supporting and promoting college student performance.

Keywords

• university
• emotional regulation
• metacognition
• stress