Emotional inertia contributes to depressive symptoms beyond perseverative thinking

Annette Brose,Florian Schmiedek,Peter Koval,Peter Kuppens

doi:10.1080/02699931.2014.916252

Abstract

The autocorrelation or inertia of negative affect reflects how much negative emotions carry over from moment to moment and has been associated with increased depressive symptoms. In this study, we posed three challenges to this association by examining: (1) whether emotional inertia is relevant for depressive symptoms when assessed on a longer timescale than usual; (2) whether inertia is uniquely related to depressive symptoms after controlling for perseverative thoughts; and (3) whether inertia is related to depressive symptoms over and above the within-person association between affect and perseverative thoughts. Participants (N = 101) provided ratings of affect and perseverative thoughts for 100 days; depressive symptoms were reported before and after the study, and again after 2.5 years. Day-to-day emotional inertia was related to depressive symptoms over and above trait and state perseverative thoughts. Moreover, inertia predicted depressive symptoms when adjusting for its association with perseverative thoughts. These findings establish the relevance of emotional inertia in depressive symptoms independent of perseverative thoughts.

Highlights

This article was downloaded by: [KU Leuven University Library] On: 15 April 2015, At: 07:21 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
This study examined three challenges to the proposed link between emotional inertia and depressive symptoms: whether it remains (1) when emotional inertia is observed over longer timescales; (2) while taking state aspects of perseverative thoughts into account; and (3) over and above the within-person association between negative affect (NA) and perseverative thoughts
Findings confirmed that emotional inertia is related to depressive symptoms over and above state perseverative thoughts

Summary

Introduction

This article was downloaded by: [KU Leuven University Library] On: 15 April 2015, At: 07:21 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK. Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. Emotional inertia contributes to depressive symptoms beyond perseverative thinking Annette Brose, Florian Schmiedek, Peter Koval, and Peter Kuppens

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