Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2025
08:42
Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
10.9K
Decentering predicts attenuated perseverative thought and internalizing symptoms following stress exposure: A
Jenny L Wu1, Jessica L Hamilton2, David M Fresco3
1University of Massachusetts Boston, USA.
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|March 22, 2022
Summary
Decentering, the ability to view thoughts from a distance, acts as a protective factor against anxiety and depression. This meta-cognitive skill can buffer the impact of negative events and perseverative thinking on mental health.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Anxiety and depression have numerous identified risk factors.
- Protective factors that reduce vulnerability to internalizing psychopathology are crucial.
- Perseverative thinking (rumination, worry) may link negative experiences to internalizing symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate decentering as a protective factor against anxiety and depression.
- To examine if decentering moderates the relationship between negative events, perseverative thinking, and internalizing symptoms.
- To elucidate the role of decentering in the pathway from stress to internalizing symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 181 undergraduate students over 12 weeks.
- Utilized multilevel modeling and multilevel moderated mediation analyses.
- Assessed negative life events, rumination, worry, brooding, and internalizing symptoms at five time points.
Main Results:
- Decentering attenuated the impact of negative events on depressive symptoms.
- Decentering reduced the effect of negative events on brooding.
- Decentering lessened the link between brooding, pondering, worry, and internalizing symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Decentering acts as a protective factor against anxiety and depression.
- Decentering may buffer the effects of negative events and perseverative thinking.
- Decentering is a potential target for interventions to promote resilience.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
134
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
134
01:23Components of Stress
288
Stress analysis under multiple loading conditions is intricate, necessitating a comprehensive grasp of normal and shearing stresses. Consider a small cube at point O, subjected to stress on all six faces, visible or not. Normal stress components σx, σy, σz act perpendicularly to the x, y, and z axes. Shearing stress components τxy and τxz are exerted on faces perpendicular to these axes.
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
288
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
257
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
257
01:27Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
173
Coping strategies are methods people use to manage, tolerate, or reduce the effects of stressors. These strategies involve both behavioral and psychological actions to handle stressful situations. One common approach is problem-focused coping, which aims to change or eliminate the source of stress rather than merely addressing its consequences. This method involves taking direct action to resolve the issue causing stress.
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
173
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
19
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
19
01:30Stress and Mental Health
232
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
232