Desire Thinking across addictive behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Related metacognitions, desire thinking and identity differentially predict compulsion and withdrawal symptoms in problematic Instagram use

Work has identified that metacognitive thought results in desire-based thinking and perpetuates the magnitude and severity of maladaptive behaviour including problematic social media use, and also that one's ingroup identity is related to increasing problematic behaviour. No evidence has ascertained the relative contribution of these as related differential factors in the experience of problematic social media use. The current study explored the comparative importance of components of desire thinking, positive and negative metacognitions and dimensions of ingroup identity on degree of problematic use among 147 current Instagram users. Results showed that for predicting general problematic Instagram use negative metacognitive beliefs and the verbal perseverance component of desire-based thinking were significant. Importantly, however, different factors appeared to be important for predicting distinct aspects of problematic Instagram. For compulsivity indicators, negative metacognitions and verbal perseveration were essential, whereas for the withdrawal component identity centrality (and no other dimensions of identity) and imaginal prefiguration emerge as the sole independent predictors.

Desire Thinking About Gambling: Assessment and Associations With Gambling Disorder and Responsible Gambling Among Chinese Gamblers

Desire thinking, within the metacognitive model of addictive behaviors, is conceptualized as a transdiagnostic process linked to the escalation and maintenance of craving for various addictive disorders; however, its application to the understanding of gambling and the Chinese community remains at an early stage. The present study aimed to introduce desire thinking into gambling research in the Chinese context by: (1) testing the applicability of its two-factor conceptualization and assessment tool, the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ), and (2) exploring its association with dysregulated and regulated engagements in gambling (i.e., Gambling Disorder [GD] and responsible gambling [RG], respectively). We conducted a telephone survey in Macao, China, and obtained a probability sample of 837 Chinese adult past-year gamblers (48.5% men; age: M = 41.11, SD = 14.31) with a two-stage cluster random sampling method. Our data indicated the psychometric adequacy of the two-factor DTQ (i.e., verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) for measuring Chinese gamblers' desire thinking about gambling. After controlling for craving and demographics, desire thinking contributed to an additional 12.1% and 18.9% variance explained in GD tendency and RG behaviors, respectively. This study provides the first empirical evidence of the utility of desire thinking and the DTQ in facilitating gambling research on Chinese gamblers. Our findings also suggest the value of incorporating desire thinking in detecting and treating GD and in promoting RG.

The role of contextual factors in avenues to recover from gambling disorder: a scoping review

Introduction

Recovery from complex conditions such as gambling disorders (GD) often entail considerable change and require a range of adaptable interventions in the health care system. Outcomes from such avenues to change are influenced by multifarious contextual factors, which are less frequently considered in treatment outcome studies. Accordingly, this scoping review aims to map the level of evidence and explore how contextual factors influence the provision and outcomes of GD interventions.

Methods

A systematic search in selected health and social science research databases yielded a total of 2.464 unique references. The results were screened in three selection steps-titles (n = 2.464), abstracts (n = 284) and full-text (n = 104). The scoping approach was applied to provide a narrative account of the final included references (n = 34).

Results and discussion

Findings suggest that the research on GD treatment is in the early stages of development. Additionally, studies on GD interventions are characterized by cultural biases (Region and ethnicity and Gender perspectives), while three key elements are described as successful avenues to recover from GD (Competence, Perception and Utilization). In line with these findings, proposals for future research and treatment designs are made.

Problematic smartphone use and sleep disturbance: the roles of metacognitions, desire thinking, and emotion regulation

Background

The association between problematic Smartphone use (PSU) and sleep disturbance is evidenced in the literature, but more research is required to investigate the potential factors that may influence the effect of PSU on sleep disturbance. Given the considerable prevalence of PSU (9.3 to 36.7%) and sleep disturbance (55.2%) in Iran, the current study sought to examine an interactional model to test whether metacognitions about Smartphone use, desire thinking (verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration), and emotion regulation (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) could have a moderating effect on the above-mentioned association.

Method

This present study is a cross-sectional, observational study that was conducted between June and September 2022 in a convenience sample of Iranians (n = 603, Female = 419, Age = 24.61 ± 8).

Results

Despite the significant association between metacognitions about the Smartphone use, PSU, and sleep disturbance, metacognitions failed to predict sleep disturbance above PSU. A slope analysis showed, however, that a high (not low or moderate) levels of imaginal prefiguration strengthen the association between PSU and sleep disturbance, while a high (not low or moderate) level of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression dampen the PSU-sleep disturbance association. We also found that verbal perseveration and expressive suppression were unique predictors of sleep disturbance, while imaginal prefiguration and reappraisal only predicted sleep disturbance if they interacted with PSU.

Conclusion

Theoretically, findings suggest that enhancing cognitive reappraisal (by 1 SD) and reducing imaginal prefiguration (by 1 SD), might protect against sleep disturbance by reducing its association with PSU. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the desire thinking questionnaire in adolescent mobile phone users

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking is a conscious and voluntary cognitive process that is closely linked to levels of craving and addictive behaviors. The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) can be used to measure desire thinking in all age groups as well as in addicts. This measurement has also been translated into several languages. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the DTQ (DTQ-C) among adolescent mobile phone users.

METHODS

One thousand and ninety-seven adolescents who own a mobile phone and are younger than 18 years old completed the DTQ-C and a battery of questionnaires assessing the big five personality traits, negative affect, brooding, self-control, craving, and problematic mobile phone use (PMPU). The psychometric analyses of the DTQ-C were conducted, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), reliability, and validity analysis.

RESULTS

The EFA revealed a 10-item two-factor structure (i.e., verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) that was confirmed by the CFA. The results of CFA showed fit indexes of χ²/df = 4.83, CFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.059, SRMR = 0.032. The total scale had internal consistency reliabilities of 0.93, which demonstrated that DTQ-C presented good reliability. The two dimensions were correlated with PMPU (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.54; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.45), neuroticism (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.18; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.14), conscientiousness (r_{verbal perseveration} = -0.19; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = -0.18), depression (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.22; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.16), anxiety (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.26; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.22), stress (r_{verbal perseveration} = 0.15; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.10) and self-control (r_{verbal perseveration} = -0.29; r_{imaginal prefiguration} = -0.26), which demonstrated that DTQ-C presented good concurrent validity. The two factors of DTQ-C correlated weakly with brooding (ranging from 0.08 to 0.10). The principal component factor analysis of the two dimensions of desire thinking and craving showed that craving and desire thinking belonged to different dimensions. Both of which showed good divergent validity of desire thinking. Additionally, an examination of incremental validity revealed that two factors were both positively associated with PMPU beyond demographic characteristics, big five personality traits, negative affect, and self-control (B_{verbal perseveration} = 0.49 and B_{imaginal prefiguration} = 0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

It has been found that the 10-item DTQ-C is a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking in Chinese adolescent mobile phone users.

Twisted memories: Addiction-related engrams are strengthened by desire thinking

Associative learning plays a central role in addiction by reinforcing associations between environmental cues and addiction-related information. Unsupervised learning models posit that memories are adjusted based on how strongly these representations are coactivated during the retrieval process. From a different perspective, clinical models of addiction posit that the escalation and persistence of craving may depend on desire thinking, a thinking style orienting to prefigure information about positive addiction-related experiences. In the present work, we tested the main hypothesis that desire thinking is a key factor in the strengthening of addiction-related associations. A group of adult smoking volunteers (N = 26) engaged in a period of desire thinking before performing an associative learning task in which neutral words (cues) were shown along with images (smoking-related vs. neutral context) at different frequencies. Two retrieval tests were administered, one immediately after encoding and the other after 24 h, to test how the recall of associations changed as a function of retention interval. Two control groups, smokers (N = 21) and non-smokers (N = 22), performed a similar procedure, with a neutral imagination task replacing desire thinking. Participants who engaged in desire thinking increased their performance from the first to the second retrieval test only for the most frequent smoking-related associations. Crucially, this selective effect was not observed in the two control groups. These results provide behavioral evidence in support of the idea that desire thinking plays a role in strengthening addiction-related associations. Thus, this thinking process may be considered a target for reconsolidation-based conceptualizations of, and treatments for, addiction.

The fear in desire: linking desire thinking and fear of missing out in the social media context

According to the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire, desire thinking and an associated deficit are fundamental factors to the emergence of craving. In the special case of problematic social networking sites (SNS) use, this experienced deficit could be constituted of an online-specific fear of missing out (FoMO). To test the interaction of these cognitions and their influence on problematic SNS use, we tested a serial mediation model on a sample of N = 193 individuals who use SNS (73% female, M_age = 28.3, SD = 9.29). We found that desire thinking predicted FoMO and both variables were only significant predictors of problematic SNS use when considered in interplay with craving. Ad hoc analyses revealed that the verbal subcomponent of desire thinking is more strongly associated with FoMO than imaginal prefiguration. Our results highlight that neither desire thinking nor FoMO are inherently dysfunctional but become problematic when they increase craving for potentially problematic SNS use.

Desire thinking and craving as predictors of problematic Internet pornography use in women and men

INTRODUCTION

According to the recent adaptation of the I-PACE model, desire thinking and craving might be closely related to problematic Internet pornography use. The overall aim of the present study was to investigate the role of two components of desire thinking (imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration) and craving in problematic Internet pornography use. Furthermore, we examined gender differences in the underlying mechanism linking desire thinking to problematic Internet pornography use.

METHOD

A total of 414 Italian adults (mean age = 27.55 years, SD = 6.13; age range = 18-58; 53.6 % men) participated in this study. Participants completed an online survey to assess problematic Internet pornography use, pornography craving, desire thinking and problematic Internet use. Path analyses and a multi-group approach were used to test the relationships among variables and to explore gender differences.

RESULTS

Imaginal prefiguration was associated to pornography craving which, in turn, was associated to verbal perseveration as proximal antecedent of problematic Internet pornography use, above and beyond the effect of age, relationship status, and problematic Internet use. Two paths significantly differed between men and women: the path between verbal perseveration and problematic Internet pornography, which for women was weaker and did not reach significance; and the path between problematic Internet use and problematic Internet pornography use that was not significant for women.

CONCLUSIONS

In line with the I-PACE model, the present study provided support for the potential role of desire thinking in problematic Internet pornography use as a specific Internet-use disorder and expanded the literature in the field by testing unexplored gender differences. Preventive and clinical implications are discussed.

Association between desire thinking and problematic social media use among a sample of Lebanese adults: The indirect effect of suppression and impulsivity

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking, impulsivity and suppression are psychological variables that are intricately related to behavioral addictions. Bearing in mind the scarcity of data on desire thinking, impulsivity, thought suppression and pathological social media use in developing countries such as Lebanon, with the existing literature suggesting a heightened mental health burden associated with this problematic social media use, it becomes all the more important to elucidate their relationship. Our study aims at investigating the association between desire thinking and problematic social media use specifically, and to further test the effect of impulsivity and thought suppression in mediating the relation between the two distinct facets of desire thinking and problematic social media use.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2021 and March 2022 using a sample of 414 community-dwelling participants aged above 18 years from all Lebanese districts. The data was collected through an online questionnaire including a section about sociodemographic information, the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ), Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P), White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) and Social Media Disorder Short Form (SMD). The tests used in the bivariate analysis to assess correlates of SMD were the Student t test to compare two means and the Pearson test to correlate two continuous scores. The PROCESS SPSS Macro version 3.4, model four was used to conduct the mediation analysis.

RESULTS

Desire thinking was shown to correlate with increased social media use. Moreover, we found that suppression and lack of premeditation mediated the association between verbal perseveration and social media use disorder whereas suppression and urgency mediated the association between imaginal prefiguration and social media use disorder.

CONCLUSION

This study provides new insight on a topic of increasing public health concern. Although understudied to date, suppression and impulsivity differentially mediate the influence of both facets of desire thinking on problematic social media use disorder. The current findings point to the highly pervasive issue of social media use disorder and the need to investigate underlying psychological factors that aggravate it to better profile and support individuals struggling with it.

The role of desire thinking in the problematic use of social networking sites among adults

The problematic use of social networking sites (SNS) is associated with several psychiatric disorders. This behavior closely resembles addiction in terms of neurological basis and behavioral patterns. Nevertheless, successful intervention strategies and the etiology of problematic SNS use are not yet thoroughly investigated. We aimed to study whether desire thinking is associated with problematic SNS use among adults when controlling for some confounders, including boredom, affect, and impulsivity. With the help of convenience sampling, we enrolled 546 Turkish adults in this study to whom we administered a sociodemographic form, the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), the Leisure Boredom Scale (LBS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ). To explore the association between the variables, we performed Pearson correlational and hierarchical regression analyses. The results showed that higher scores on two sub-dimensions of desire thinking, namely verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration, were associated with higher scores on problematic SNS use after we controlled for boredom, affect, and impulsivity. This study demonstrates that desire thinking may play a role in problematic SNS use among adults. We recommend targeting desire thinking as a potential area in treatments which may help alleviate problematic SNS use.

Metacognition, Desire Thinking and Craving in Problematic Video Game Use

Gaming addiction is now a prevalent and persistent phenomenon in modern society. This study aimed to assess the metacognitive model of desire thinking and craving in explaining problematic video game use and to examine the role that specific motives for gaming have towards positive metacognitions about desire thinking. A sample of participants (N = 186) aged between 18 and 58 years old, who were primarily male (81.8%), played online games and met the inclusion criteria for Internet gaming disorder, completed an online survey, and the data were cross-sectionally analysed. Specifically, path analysis confirmed that the metacognitive model of desire thinking and craving was predictive of gaming-related cognitions and cravings. Furthermore, an expanded model, which included measures of psychopathology, suggested that anger and anxiety may magnify the driving metacognitive and cognitive processes underlying cravings. Finally, a multiple regression revealed that gaming for escapism, coping and skill development associated with stronger positive metacognitions about desire thinking. The findings of this study reinforced the importance of understanding motive when exploring problematic gaming and provided support for the role of metacognitions about desire thinking in shaping video game use cravings. Such findings could benefit both research and practice in their approach to understanding and intervening on problematic gaming behaviours.

Storytelling as a Tool for Nurses and Nursing Students

Finding healing and improved communication through imagining another's perspective.

Desire thinking as an underlying mechanism in alcohol use disorder and nicotine dependence

Desire thinking is an emerging construct in the addictive behaviours literature. No research, to date, has investigated its contribution to problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence in patient samples when accounting for established predictors of addictive behaviours. The present study sought to clarify, in patient samples, the relative contribution of desire thinking in the associations between negative affect, impulsivity and thought suppression on the one hand and craving, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence on the other. To achieve this goal, two groups of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) (n = 370; age range = 15-67 years) and nicotine dependence (n = 365; age range = 17-75 years) were selected, and measures of negative affect, impulsivity, thought suppression, craving, desire thinking, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence were completed by both groups. Results showed that in both groups, negative affect and thought suppression indirectly affected alcohol and nicotine craving, problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence through the mediating role of desire thinking. The present study shows the independent role of desire thinking in predicting problematic alcohol use and nicotine dependence in patient samples, indicating its potential relevance for treatment.

The independent contribution of desire thinking to problematic social media use

In the present study, we investigated the role of desire thinking in problematic social media use (PSMU) whilst accounting for negative affect, impulsivity, and thought suppression. A sample of individuals with PSMU (n = 350) who used social media at least 8 h daily was recruited. Participants completed measures of negative affect, impulsivity, thought suppression, craving, desire thinking, and PSMU. Results indicated that negative affect, impulsivity, and thought suppression had significant indirect effects on craving and PSMU through the significant mediating role of desire thinking. The present study shows that desire thinking is an underlying mechanism linking established variables associated with PSMU (negative affect, impulsivity, and thought suppression) to craving and PSMU. Focusing efforts on the interruption of desire thinking may be beneficial to support individuals in disengaging from PSMU.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Self-Reported Substance Use, Well-Being, and Functioning Among United States Veterans: A Cross-Sectional Study

As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe, many veterans with substance use issues have faced the closure of treatment facilities, mandates to shelter in place, and social distancing measures. To better understand their pandemic experiences, substance use changes, and functioning, a survey was nationally administered to a sample of United States veterans reporting substance use issues during the pandemic. The purpose of this cross-sectional online survey for veterans (N = 409) was to report on COVID-19 experiences, safety behaviors, and infection experiences while also investigating the relationship among addictive behaviors, mental and physical health, and COVID-19 impact. Measures also assessed specific substance use concerns, pandemic-related loneliness, and functioning. Though few veterans reported personally receiving a confirmed COVID-19 medical diagnosis (10.5%), the impact of pandemic stressors was evident, with a majority reporting anxiety related to contracting COVID-19 (61.4%) or fear of a family member or close friend contracting COVID-19 (58.7%). Participants reported increased use of alcohol (45.3%), sedatives (36.6%), inhalants (35.7%), tobacco (35.0%), and cannabis (34.9%), attributed specifically to the pandemic. Regression analyses revealed that even when controlling for the contribution of problematic substance use issues, negative pandemic impacts and self-reported COVID-19 related loneliness were related to more impaired physical and mental health functioning during the pandemic. Findings from this sample of veterans with addiction issues add to the growing literature suggesting unique and adverse effects of COVID-19 stressors on functioning while also revealing specific pandemic impacts for this group.

Psychometric validation of the desire thinking questionnaire in a Turkish adolescent sample: Associations with internet gaming disorder

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking is a conscious and voluntary cognitive process that consists of perseverative focus on information, memories, and prefiguration of images related to a desired target. The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) is acknowledged as a reliable and valid tool to measure desire thinking in both adults and adolescents. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the DTQ in Turkish adolescent sample.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 200 adolescents completed the Turkish version of the DTQ (DTQ-T) and an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed. Subsequently, a convenience sample of 701 adolescents completed the DTQ-T and a battery of questionnaires assessing personality traits, affect, boredom, impulsivity, and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed on the DTQ-T and validity was determined by examining correlations with other measures.

RESULTS

A 9-item two-factor structure was observed in the EFA. An 8-item two-factor structure was established in the CFA. Results demonstrated that the DTQ-T yields adequate levels of reliability and concurrent validity. Additionally, an examination of incremental validity showed that DTQ-T significantly predicted IGD when controlling for personality traits, affect, boredom, and impulsivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The 8-item DTQ-T was found to be a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking among Turkish adolescents. Desire thinking may be a feasible target for mental health workers to alleviate the symptoms of IGD.

The desire thinking questionnaire-Persian version (DTQ-P) and its association with addictive behaviors in individuals with alcohol use disorder, nicotine dependence, and problematic social media use

Desire thinking is an emerging construct which has been shown to play a role in addictive behaviors. The present study sought to validate a translated Persian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) in three groups of individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD; n = 300), nicotine dependence (n = 300), and problematic social media use (n = 300). All three groups completed the translated Persian version of the DTQ, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-15 (BIS-15), the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Measures of alcohol use, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use were also collected. The results confirmed a two-factor structure of the Persian version of the DTQ with good reliability and validity in all three groups. Furthermore, both the verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration components of the Persian version of the DTQ were found to predict addictive behaviors beyond demographic and clinical characteristics, negative affect, impulsiveness, and thought suppression. The study confirms the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the DTQ and the role of desire thinking as an independent predictor of AUD, nicotine dependence, and the problematic use of social media.

Validating the Diathesis–Stress Model Based Case Conceptualization Procedure in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: The LIBET (Life Themes and Semi-Adaptive Plans—Implications of Biased Beliefs, Elicitation and Treatment) Procedure

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches use case formulation procedures based on the diathesis–stress conceptualization model, arranged in two dimensions: emotional vulnerability (present in a patient’s consciousness in terms of core beliefs) and coping strategies. Nevertheless, despite its pivotal role, there are a limited number of validation studies for this model. Life themes and semi-adaptive plans: Implications of biased beliefs, elicitation and treatment (LIBET) is a CBT case formulation method grounded on the CBT diathesis–stress model that aims to help validate the CBT case formulation model, and, in particular, its bidimensional arrangement. In LIBET, the two classic CBT dimensions are called “life themes,” which are mental states of focused attention to emotional sensitivities represented as core beliefs in consciousness, and “semi-adaptive plans,” which are the rigid management strategies of “life themes” implemented by adopting coping strategies such as anxious safety behaviors, compulsive controls and aggressive or rewarding strategies. The study uses quantitative textual analysis to validate the LIBET procedure in a clinical sample. The investigation discusses the extent to which the results can be considered a validation of the arrangement of the general CBT diathesis–stress model in the two dimensions of core beliefs and coping strategies.

Integrating Desire Thinking into the I-PACE Model: a Special Focus on Internet-Use Disorders

Purpose of Review

This manuscript aims to propose an integration of desire thinking into the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model based on theoretical considerations within the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire and Self-Regulatory Execution Function model and empirical evidence from the field of internet-use disorders.

Recent Findings

Theory and research on desire thinking in the context of internet-use disorders suggest considerable relations to craving, metacognitive beliefs, and emphasizes its nature when initiated as a reaction towards unpleasant triggers. Accordingly, we postulate that desire thinking may be located at the position for affective and cognitive reactions towards triggers within the I-PACE model.

Summary

The suggested integration of desire thinking into the I-PACE model specifically implies the assumption of a relief-oriented and pleasure-oriented entry pathway into desire thinking and a feedback loop between desire thinking and the experience of gratification and compensation. The model pathways proposed here may serve as a theoretical basis for future research and need further empirical verification.

Repetitive negative thinking, metacognitive beliefs, and their interaction as possible predictors for problematic cannabis use

The metacognitive formulation of addictive behaviours considers repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and metacognitive beliefs as two important processes involved in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviours. To date, very limited research has investigated the implication of these processes in problematic cannabis use. The present study was aimed at exploring the association between RNT, metacognitive beliefs, and cannabis use in a sample of 157 problematic cannabis users. Participants were administered measures of cannabis use severity, RNT, metacognitive beliefs, anxiety, and depression. Multiple regression analysis showed that metacognitive beliefs (cognitive confidence, beliefs about the need to control thought, and cognitive self-consciousness) were independent predictors of problematic cannabis use and related problem severity when controlling for RNT and negative affect (anxiety and depression). Furthermore, RNT predicted problematic cannabis use severity only for users with low levels of negative beliefs about thoughts concerning uncontrollability and danger. These data suggest that metacognitive beliefs and RNT may be two relevant cognitive processes for understanding problematic cannabis use. More generally, it enables the consideration of cannabis use from the perspective of self-regulation theories, and more specifically cognitive regulation, thus offering several theoretical and clinical implications.

Metacognitions as a predictor of online gaming in adolescents: Psychometric properties of the metacognitions about online gaming scale among Iranian adolescents

The Metacognitions about Online Gaming Scale (MOGS) measures maladaptive metacognitions about online gaming. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the MOGS, including its factor structure, reliability, and predictive validity among Iranian adolescents. The scale was administered to 769 Iranian adolescents (577 male, mean age = 16.39 ± 1.68 years) with an age range of 15-19 years. The participants completed the Persian-translated version of the MOGS, the Big Five Inventory-10, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21, the Video-Game Related Cognitions Scale, the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire, and the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire. The results of the Exploratory Factor Analysis (n = 350) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (n = 419) confirmed three-factors similar to the parent version, including "negative metacognitions about uncontrollability of online gaming" (N-MOGU), "negative metacognitions about dangers of online gaming" (N-MOGD), and "positive metacognitions about online gaming" (P-MOG). The Persian MOGS's reliability showed a suitable internal consistency for the P-MOG, the N-MOGU, the N-MOGD, and the total score in both confirmatory and exploratory samples (range 0.79 to 0.93). A hierarchical regression analysis showed that the Persian MOGS predicted 33.9% of the variance in problematic online gaming independently of personality traits, anxiety, depression, stress, and both gaming-related cognitions and gaming motives. Furthermore, the results of analyses of variance with follow-up Bonferroni pairwise comparisons showed that interaction between the factors of MOGS and types of game and tools of gaming was significant. The findings provide evidence that the Persian MOGS among Iranian adolescents appears psychometrically appropriate to be used by researchers and practitioners dealing with the prevention and treatment of problematic online gaming.

Does alcohol-related desire thinking predict in-the-moment drinking behaviours?

Desire thinking (voluntary thinking involving a perseverative focusing on desired target-related memories, images, and information), is an important factor in the experience of drinking urges and cravings. Research has not examined the relationship between desire thinking, behavioural intention and the implementation of that behaviour into action, nor how one's past repeated behaviour in situ (expressed as habit) may moderate these relationships. We employed an ad libitum drinking paradigm to provide indirect measures of in-the-moment drinking behaviours (amount poured [mls] and amount consumed [mls]) in a group of eighty-eight self-defined social drinkers immediately after measuring self-reported drinking habit, drinking-related desire thinking, and general drinking behaviour. Results confirmed the predicted positive relationship between desire thinking and in-the-moment drinking behaviour with the effects increasing as a function of rising drinking habit strength. We also observed a dissociation between desire thinking components (verbal perseveration and imaginal prefiguration) in the moderating effects of habit strength on drinking behaviour. For imaginal prefiguration (thoughts related to construction of mental images of a desired target or of its context for consumption) a direct effect on drinking behaviours was shown. In comparison, the effect for verbal perseveration (repetitive self-talk regarding the need to achieve a desired target) was not shown to independently predict drinking-related behaviour but was significantly moderated by increasing drinking-related habit strength. Future work should formulate the nature of this moderating influence on perseverative goal-directed thinking.

Repetitive Negative Thinking and Eating Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of the Role of Worry and Rumination

The role of worry and rumination in eating disorders (EDs) is controversial. This meta-analysis of the literature is aimed at clarifying the relationship between repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and EDs. In accordance with the PRISMA criteria, a comprehensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed and PsycInfo from inception to March 2021. Search terms: “eating disorder/anorexia/bulimia/binge eating disorder” AND “worry/rumination/brooding/repetitive thinking”. A manual search of reference lists was also run. Forty-three studies were included. RNT was found to be associated with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. A moderating effect was found for “presence/absence ED diagnosis” and “subtype of ED symptom”. ED patients showed higher RNT than the general population. No differences were observed for age or between worry and rumination in the magnitude of their association with EDs.

Adverse childhood experiences and repetitive negative thinking in adulthood: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

It has been proposed that repetitive negative thinking (worry and rumination) may be more common among adults who have been exposed to childhood adverse experiences, leading to emotional disorders and other adverse outcomes. The current study aims to present a comprehensive evaluation of the literature examining the relationship between the exposure to childhood adversities, repetitive negative thinking and clinical outcomes in adulthood.

METHODS

In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria, a search was conducted on PubMed and Ebsco. A manual search of reference lists was also run. Search terms were 'childhood adversity/childhood abuse/childhood neglect/early loss event AND worry or rumination'.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. In both non-clinical and clinical populations, worry and rumination seem to be common among adults exposed to childhood abuse or childhood neglect. Among adults who have been exposed to childhood adversities, rumination seems to be associated with worse clinical outcomes such as severe psychiatric symptoms, depression, dysphoria, suicidal ideation, cognitive complaints, post-traumatic stress symptoms and aggression.

CONCLUSION

Early experiences of abuse and neglect may be associated with a tendency to engage in repetitive negative thinking, such as worry and rumination, in adulthood. Among adults, with a history of childhood adversities, tailored treatment to reduce repetitive negative thinking should be considered.

Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the desire thinking questionnaire in a sample of Internet game players

The Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ) is the main instrument used to measure desire thinking, which is the voluntary cognitive elaboration of a desired target on a verbal or imaginal level. Research has shown that this pattern of thinking occurs in different addictive behaviors. This study aimed to adapt the DTQ for use in research on gaming behavior (DTQ-G) and to validate the Polish version of the DTQ-G in a sample of Internet game players. A sample of 635 gamers were examined via the internet. The psychometric analyses of the DTQ-G yielded good results. The questionnaire proved to be a reliable tool for measuring desire thinking related to gaming. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the two-factor solution, with both factors (imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration) achieving good internal consistency. The Polish version of the DTQ-G has good psychometric properties and can be considered comparable to the original version.

Desire thinking promotes decisions to game: The mediating role between gaming urges and everyday decision-making in recreational gamers

INTRODUCTION

Desire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process that involves the imaginal forecast of a desired activity and the verbal perseveration with plans and good reasons for engaging in it. Considering theoretical models arguing that specific decision-making processes may be involved in the development of gaming disorder, we hypothesized that an initial urge to game might be accelerated by desire thinking, leading to the decision to game in an everyday setting although the gaming behavior may conflict with another activity or certain other goals.

METHODS

A pre-study helped developing a catalogue of situations that provides forced-choice scenarios warranting a decision for or against gaming. To explore the postulated sequence of cognitive and affective events, a serial mediation model with urge to game as predictor, decision to game as dependent variable, and imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration as mediators was tested in a sample of 118 recreational gamers with varying degrees of gaming intensity.

RESULTS

The pre-study revealed a catalogue of 18 conflicting situations that likely happen in the daily life of gamers, containing conflicting activities such as job/educational performance and meeting friends/family/acquaintances. In the sequential mediation model, the desire thinking facets imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration fully mediated the relation between an initial urge and the decision to game.

CONCLUSIONS

The mediation model emphasizes the serial ordinance of desire thinking facets and their role in motivating decisions to game after an initial urge has been experienced. Results may indicate that desire thinking plays a considerable role in problematic gaming tendencies.

Toward a better understanding of the influence of repetitive negative thinking in alcohol use disorder: An examination of moderation effect of metacognitive beliefs and gender

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT), the most studied forms of which are depressive ruminations and anxious worry, is a unique transdiagnostic process responsible for the development and maintenance of many mental disorders. Over the past decade, studies have shown that RNT could be involved in the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, to date, little is known about the factors that can influence this relationship, even though some theoretical and empirical arguments suggest that variables such as gender or metacognitive beliefs may determine the role of RNT in the onset of symptoms. The aim of the present study was to test the moderation effect of metacognitive beliefs and gender in the relationship between RNT and AUD. Eighty-one AUD patients were administered measures of AUD severity, RNT, metacognitive beliefs about thinking and alcohol use, anxiety, and depression. Results indicated that the 'capture mental resources' factor of RNT is a significant predictor of AUD severity, independent from anxiety and depression, and that this effect is moderated by metacognitive beliefs and gender. RNT is a significant predictor of AUD severity only for people with high negative beliefs about thoughts regarding uncontrollability and danger. Furthermore, RNT was found to predict AUD severity only for men with high beliefs about the need to control thoughts and for men with high positive beliefs about emotional self-regulation. Treatments that reduce attentional impairments caused by RNT and modify dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs could be promising for some patients with AUD.

Validity of a Norwegian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ): Associations with problem drinking, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use

The aim of the current study was to test the validity of the Norwegian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ). Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted investigating the psychometric properties of the DTQ in alcohol use (N = 588), nicotine use (N = 446) and social media use (N = 359). Principal components and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original two-factor solution consisting of verbal perseveration (VP) and imaginal prefiguration (IP); however, one item was removed to obtain good fit. Internal consistency was acceptable. Both IP and VP showed significant correlations with problem drinking, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use. Regression analyses, controlling for demographics and negative affect, found IP and VP to be significantly associated with all dependent variables. The results confirm that desire thinking is an important construct across different addictive behaviours.

Desire thinking as a predictor of compulsive sexual behaviour in adolescents: Evidence from a cross-cultural validation of the Hebrew version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire

BACKGROUND

Desire thinking is a voluntary cognitive process that involves the perseverative focus on memories, images and information related to a desired target. The aim of the present study was to validate the Hebrew version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ; Caselli & Spada, 2011) in a sample of adolescents and to investigate its relationship with measures of thought suppression, impulsivity and individual-based compulsive sexual behaviour.

METHODS

In Study 1, a convenience sample of 718 adolescents completed the newly translated Desire Thinking Questionnaire in Hebrew (DTQ-H) and results were subjected to an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). In Study 2, a convenience sample of 379 adolescents completed a battery of questionnaires including the DTQ-H. A Confirmatory Factors Analysis was performed on the DTQ-H and validity was ascertained by correlating with other measures.

RESULTS

In Study 1, a 9-item two-factor structure was identified. A 6-item two-factor structure was confirmed in Study 2. Results also indicated that the DTQ-H has acceptable levels of reliability, and good concurrent and incremental validity in predicting compulsive sexual behaviour.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6-item DTQ-H appears to be a reliable and valid measure of desire thinking and may be used also on adolescents - an understudied population.

The effect of desire thinking on facilitating beliefs in alcohol use disorder: An experimental investigation

Permissive beliefs relate to the acceptability of engaging in alcohol use in spite of obvious potential negative consequences. They are considered the most proximal and precipitating cognitive factor in the decision to use alcohol and/or the activation of strategies to obtain it. Recent research suggested that 'desire thinking' may be involved in the escalation of craving and addictive behaviours and can play a role in strengthening permissive beliefs. The current study tested whether the induction of desire thinking would have a stronger effect on rate of conviction in permissive beliefs compared to a control cognitive response in the form of neutral thinking and whether this effect would be specific for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Thirty AUD patients and 30 social drinkers (SD) were randomly allocated to two thinking manipulation tasks (desire thinking and neutral thinking). Current permissive beliefs were measured before and after manipulation and after a resting phase. Findings showed that desire thinking increased the level of current permissive beliefs after manipulation relative to the neutral thinking condition for the AUD group but not for the SD group. This effect was not purely dependent on the concurrent level of perceived craving. This study supports a causal relationship between the induction of desire thinking and rate of conviction in permissive beliefs and highlights the relevance of targeting desire thinking in the treatment for AUD patients.

Third wave cognitive and behavioral processes and therapies for addictive behaviors: An introduction to the Special Issue

Third wave cognitive and behavioral therapies have garnered significant attention in the study and treatment of addiction. Such treatments employ a process-oriented, transdiagnostic approach to mitigate problematic thought and behavioral patterns and consequences associated with substance use. Although initial evidence is promising, much remains unknown regarding the impact of third wave processes on substance use behavior and treatment outcomes. Additionally, more work is needed to elucidate the potential of novel third wave treatments on substance use outcomes. If proven successful, third wave processes and therapies may hold the key to disrupt the huge financial, societal, and personal burden associated with addiction. This Special Issue highlights recent, scientifically rigorous, clinically applicable advances in current understanding of third wave cognitive and behavioral processes and therapies for substance use. Research presented in this Special Issue covers topics ranging from the role and application of mindfulness in the etiology of substance use behavior, treatment outcomes, and familial support; the potential of transdiagnostic factors as important considerations for vulnerable groups; and the development and refinement of novel technological and integrated interventions. This Special Issue is organized into three parts classified as third wave processes and substance use behavior; third wave processes in traditional substance use treatment and their malleability; and third wave treatments for substance use among special populations. It is hoped that this issue will alert readers to the significance of this work, illustrate the many domains currently being explored via process-oriented, transdiagnostic treatment, and identify promising and impactful areas for research.

An emotional and cognitive model of problematic Internet use among college students: The full mediating role of cognitive factors

Numerous researches have shown that the problematic Internet use (PIU) is significantly associated with a variety of psychological problems among young people. However, limited research has focused on the psychological mechanism underlying PIU. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between several emotional and cognitive factors in predicting PIU in a sole model. In this model, difficulties in emotion regulation was the independent variable, three cognitive variables (i.e. experiential avoidance, desire thinking, and intolerance of uncertainty) were the mediators, and PIU was the dependent variable. Participants were 300 college students from four universities in Tehran (60% females; Mean age = 20.27). Results of the Structural Equation Modeling analysis revealed a full mediation role of experiential avoidance and desire thinking in the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and PIU (R² = 57%). Based on these findings a special attention to cognitive factors is suggested in the treatment of PIU.