Cognitive reactivity to low positive and high negative affect

Yinghao Zhang; David A Cole; Cassandra R Mick; Abbegail J Lovette; Megan E Gabruk

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103683

Cognitive reactivity to low positive and high negative affect

Behav Res Ther. 2020 Sep:132:103683. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103683. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Authors

Yinghao Zhang¹, David A Cole², Cassandra R Mick³, Abbegail J Lovette³, Megan E Gabruk³

Affiliations

¹ Vanderbilt University, United States. Electronic address: yinghao.zhang@vanderbilt.edu.
² Vanderbilt University, United States. Electronic address: david.cole@vanderbilt.edu.
³ Vanderbilt University, United States.

PMID: 32682076
DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103683

Abstract

Cognitive Reactivity (CR), an established diathesis for depression, has been defined as the within-person strength of association between sad affect and dysfunctional attitudes. Watson and Tellegen (1985) proposed that sad affect is a combination of high negative affect (NA) and low positive affect (PA). The current study integrated the CR and the affect literatures by examining the differential and conjoint roles of cognitive reactivity to high negative affect (CR-highNA) and cognitive reactivity to low positive affect (CR-lowPA). In the current study, college student participants completed daily diary measures of CR-highNA, CR-lowPA, and CR to sadness (CR-Sad). Results showed that naturally occurring NA and PA accounted for the relation of sadness to dysfunctional cognitions. Further, the relation of depressive symptoms to CR-Sad was explained by high levels of CR-highNA and CR-lowPA. Born out of the integration of research on CR and affective structures, the current results have implications for both theory and treatment of depression.

Keywords: Cognitive reactivity; Daily diary; Depression; Negative affect; Positive affect.