Positive and negative appraisals of the consequences of activated states uniquely relate to symptoms of hypomania and depression

Abstract

Individuals may appraise internal states positively or negatively. Positive appraisals involve desiring or pursuing the state or experience, while negative appraisals involve dreading or avoiding the experience. The extent to which individuals make extreme positive or negative appraisals of high, activated, energetic states might determine whether they experience symptoms of high or low mood. This study extends the existing literature by considering the role of opposing appraisals and beliefs about the same internal states and by controlling for the potential correlation between depression and activation symptoms. Extreme, positive and negative appraisals of activated mood states related distinctly to experiences of activation and depression symptoms respectively, in an analogue sample (n=323). Positive appraisals of activated internal states were uniquely associated with elevated activation and hypomania symptoms. Negative appraisals of the same states were uniquely associated with elevated depression symptoms. Opposing appraisals of internal states may underlie mood swing symptoms.

Keywords:

• Appraisals
• Internal states
• Mood swings
• Activation
• Depression
• Emotion regulation

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the ESRC (RES-060-25-0044).

Thank you to Miriam Samad for her help conducting this study and to the individuals who participated in the research.