Memories of Recent Life Events: Differences in Emotional Reactivity and Regulation of Individuals with High and Low Levels of Depressive Symptoms

TY - CONF

T1 - Memories of Recent Life Events: Differences in Emotional Reactivity and Regulation of Individuals with High and Low Levels of Depressive Symptoms

AU - del Palacio Gonzalez, Adriana

AU - Watson, Lynn Ann

AU - Berntsen, Dorthe

N1 - Conference code: 45th

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Existing studies investigating involuntary memories (IMs) in the context of depression extend their hypotheses from PTSD models. Findings suggest that the frequency and suppression of IMs are associated with depression. However, in order to fully understand the memory-mental health relationship, it is of paramount importance to identify the centrality of events to an individual's identity, and potential differences between IMs and word-cued memories (i.e., voluntary). Method: Participants of this two-staged study were 205 non-clinical adults (Mage = 22.72, SD = 1.99). In Stage 1 participants completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, emotion regulation, and recent positive and negative life events. Participants nominated the most and least central events to their identity. Emotion reactivity and regulation of IMs of both events were rated. In Stage 2, participants (n = 48) reporting low and high levels of depressive symptoms were provided with diaries to rate involuntary and word-cued memories. Results: In Stage 1, multivariate analyses indicated that IMs of highly central negative events were associated with greater fear, anger, and sadness, and increased use of maladaptive emotion-regulation strategies (e.g., brooding, suppression) when compared to negative memories of low-centrality, and positive memories. The high-depressive symptom group reported significantly greater negative emotions, brooding, and emotion-expression suppression associated with all memories regardless of valence. Preliminary Stage 2 results showed non-significant differences between involuntary and word-cued memories in terms of centrality, emotional reactivity, and emotion regulation. However, there was an effect of depressive symptom-level on more intense negative emotions and greater maladaptive emotion regulation for all memories. Discussion: Memories of highly-central events provoked greater psychological impact than low-centrality events. Emotional reactions to involuntary and word-cued memories were remarkably similar. Consistent with emotion regulation models, current findings highlight the need to address maladaptive cognitive strategies. Future research could focus on metacognition related to both IMs and word-cued memories.

AB - Existing studies investigating involuntary memories (IMs) in the context of depression extend their hypotheses from PTSD models. Findings suggest that the frequency and suppression of IMs are associated with depression. However, in order to fully understand the memory-mental health relationship, it is of paramount importance to identify the centrality of events to an individual's identity, and potential differences between IMs and word-cued memories (i.e., voluntary). Method: Participants of this two-staged study were 205 non-clinical adults (Mage = 22.72, SD = 1.99). In Stage 1 participants completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, emotion regulation, and recent positive and negative life events. Participants nominated the most and least central events to their identity. Emotion reactivity and regulation of IMs of both events were rated. In Stage 2, participants (n = 48) reporting low and high levels of depressive symptoms were provided with diaries to rate involuntary and word-cued memories. Results: In Stage 1, multivariate analyses indicated that IMs of highly central negative events were associated with greater fear, anger, and sadness, and increased use of maladaptive emotion-regulation strategies (e.g., brooding, suppression) when compared to negative memories of low-centrality, and positive memories. The high-depressive symptom group reported significantly greater negative emotions, brooding, and emotion-expression suppression associated with all memories regardless of valence. Preliminary Stage 2 results showed non-significant differences between involuntary and word-cued memories in terms of centrality, emotional reactivity, and emotion regulation. However, there was an effect of depressive symptom-level on more intense negative emotions and greater maladaptive emotion regulation for all memories. Discussion: Memories of highly-central events provoked greater psychological impact than low-centrality events. Emotional reactions to involuntary and word-cued memories were remarkably similar. Consistent with emotion regulation models, current findings highlight the need to address maladaptive cognitive strategies. Future research could focus on metacognition related to both IMs and word-cued memories.

KW - Life events

KW - emotional intensity

KW - emotion regulation

KW - dysphoria

KW - autobiographical memories

M3 - Paper

T2 - Annual Conference of the European Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies

Y2 - 31 August 2015 through 3 September 2015

ER -