Untangling the Effects of Thought Monitoring and Societal Influences on Mental Wellness: A Meta-Analysis of Youth between 6-18

Youth mental health is a global health priority due to its increasing prevalence and adverse outcomes. Although the relationship between metacognitions and anxiety is well-documented in adults, further research is needed for the younger populations. This research examines two questions: 1) What is the correlation between cognitive self-consciousness and anxiety in children and adolescents? 2) Is this correlation moderated by cultural and socioeconomic differences? Based on 22 effect sizes from 8459 participants in 11 countries, a meta-analysis was performed to find the overall effect size, heterogeneity, publication bias, and the moderating effect of Hofstede’s four cultural dimensions and UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI). Using the random-effects model, the results revealed that cognitive self-consciousness [r = 0.312, p < .0001, (95% CI .257 to .365)] showing moderate effect size in association with anxiety in children and adolescents. Meta-regressions indicated that power distance, masculinity, and HDI were important moderators. The findings show a significant correlation between cognitive self-consciousness and mental wellness in youth. The results have important implications for understanding the influence of cultural beliefs and national-level context on the associations between cognition and psychopathology. This article provides consistent evidence that there is a lack of mental health research resources in the Global South.