States-of-mind and negative affectivity

Although several studies have assessed the affective characteristics of individuals high in negative affectivity, less research has examined cognitive aspects such as self-statements. The states-of-mind (SOM) model specifies ratios of positive and negative self-statements for varying severity levels of psychological dysfunction. Participants completed measures of negative affectivity depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, current mood state, and positive and negative self-statements. Based on Depression scale, Anxiety scale and Negative Affectivity scale scores, participants were divided into five distinct groups: depressed participants, anxious participants, participants high in negative affectivity, depression and anxiety, participants high only on negative affectivity and normal participants. Results indicated that participants scoring high on measures of negative affectivity, depression, and anxiety had SOM ratios that were significantly lower than all other groups. Depressed, anxious, or participants high only in negative affectivity had significantly lower ratios than normal subjects. The configuration of scores implies an additive model of affective distress and negative cognition. Such a model suggests that depression or anxiety might be related to a decrease in SOM ratios, while the combination of the two affects and negative affectivity appears related to an even further decrease in SOM ratios.