| The present study aimed to compare multidimensional mentalization and metacognitive beliefs between patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and nonclinical individuals. This causal-comparative study was conducted in Tehran Province during 2025–2026. The sample consisted of 100 participants, including 50 patients with IBS and 50 nonclinical individuals, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Mentalization Questionnaire and the Metacognitions Questionnaire and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and follow-up univariate tests. The results revealed a statistically significant overall difference between the two groups in the set of multidimensional mentalization components. However, subsequent univariate analyses showed a significant between-group difference only in distrust, with patients with IBS obtaining higher mean scores than nonclinical individuals. A significant overall difference was also found between the groups in metacognitive beliefs, with the IBS group scoring higher on all five components: uncontrollability and danger, positive beliefs about worry, cognitive awareness, confidence in memory, and need to control thoughts. These findings suggest that metacognitive beliefs and the distrust component of mentalization are relevant psychological dimensions for examining differences between patients with IBS and nonclinical individuals. Assessing these variables may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the psychological characteristics associated with IBS. Nevertheless, given the cross-sectional nature of the study, causal relationships cannot be inferred from the findings. |
