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Role of self-focus in the relationship between depressed mood and problem solving

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Abstract

We investigated the effects of adaptive and maladaptive forms of self-focus—specifically, self-reflection and self-rumination—on the relationship between depressed mood and everyday problem-solving behavior. Although previous research has consistently suggested that self-rumination disturbs problem solving and self-regulatory processes, thereby aggravating depressive symptoms, the association between self-reflection, problem solving, and its emotional consequences has not been demonstrated. Therefore, we assessed whether self-reflection can facilitate the emotion regulation function of problem solving through a daily diary method. Thirty-nine Japanese undergraduate and graduate students recorded daily depressed mood, the most stressful problem encountered each day, and whether they utilized problem-solving behaviors for seven consecutive days. Multilevel model analyses showed that individuals with higher levels of self-reflection reported lower depressed moods after enacting problem-solving behaviors, even if the problem that they had on that day was highly stressful. These results suggest that self-reflection enhances the mood regulation function of everyday problem-solving behavior, and may contribute to mental well-being and resilience to stress.

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Notes

  1. In regard to the Beck Depression Inventory, our aggregated measure of depressed mood showed a correlation size (r = 0.28) almost compatible to that of the single subscale of depressed mood (r = 0.34). These results do not suggest that the aggregated measure captures depressive symptoms better than the single depressed-mood measure, but we decided to report the results of the aggregated measure for the theoretical and conceptual validity as described in the main text.

  2. In the early survey period, 12 participants responded to the original 21-item BDI including "suicidal thoughts." We calculated BDI scores for the 12 participants by summing 20 items excluding "suicidal thoughts." Hence, two groups responded to the original or modified BDI, but there was no significant between-group difference in BDI scores.

  3. Because u 3j did not converge to a positive value when conducting the analysis about self-reflection, we re-estimated the model, fixing u 3j to be zero.

  4. To test whether the BDI has any interactions with problem-solving behavior, stress, or self-focus, we also added the BDI score and its interaction with self-reflection to the equation as independent variables for the Level 1 intercept and slopes. Furthermore, we estimated an analogous model replacing self-reflection with self-rumination. Consequently, all interactions including the BDI were significant in neither the self-reflection nor the self-rumination model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan

    Masaki Mori, Keisuke Takano & Yoshihiko Tanno

  2. Center for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium

    Keisuke Takano

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  1. Masaki Mori
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  2. Keisuke Takano
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  3. Yoshihiko Tanno
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Correspondence to Masaki Mori.

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Mori, M., Takano, K. & Tanno, Y. Role of self-focus in the relationship between depressed mood and problem solving. Motiv Emot 39, 827–838 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9486-x

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