How to assess negative affective reactivity to daily life stress in depressed and nondepressed individuals?

Elisabeth C D van der Stouwe; Nynke A Groenewold; Elisabeth H Bos; Peter de Jonge; Marieke Wichers; Sanne H Booij

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.03.040

How to assess negative affective reactivity to daily life stress in depressed and nondepressed individuals?

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Sep:279:259-266. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.03.040. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Authors

Elisabeth C D van der Stouwe¹, Nynke A Groenewold², Elisabeth H Bos³, Peter de Jonge³, Marieke Wichers⁴, Sanne H Booij⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), CC72, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, BCN Neuroimaging Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.c.d.van.der.stouwe@rug.nl.
² University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), CC72, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, BCN Neuroimaging Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Anzio Road, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South-Africa.
³ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), CC72, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), CC72, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁵ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), CC72, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands; Center for Integrative Psychiatry, Lentis, Groningen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 31003712
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.03.040

Abstract

Intensive longitudinal data studies on affective reactivity to daily life stress have used various dimensions of stress. Based on an evidence-based conceptual model of stress, the current study included unpredictability, uncontrollability and unpleasantness, and examined whether and how these predict affective reactivity in depressed and non-depressed individuals in daily life. Participants (27 depressed, 27 non-depressed) completed a diary 3 times a day for a period of 30 days. Multilevel analyses were performed to investigate unpleasantness, uncontrollability and unpredictability of daily events as univariate predictors of negative affect (NA). Multivariable models were composed to determine the optimal combination of stress dimensions, and whether the strength of the predictions differed between the depressed and non-depressed groups. Unpleasantness, uncontrollability and unpredictability each predicted subsequent NA independently. However, a combination of all three dimensions, together with an interaction between unpleasantness and uncontrollability, predicted subsequent NA best. The stress dimensions predicted NA more strongly in the depressed than the non-depressed group. This was mostly accounted for by an increased NA response to unpleasantness. Thus, unpleasantness seems to be the most important aspect of daily stress to distinguish depressed from non-depressed individuals. Nevertheless, for a comprehensive assessment of affective reactivity, a multidimensional model of event stressfulness is recommended.

Keywords: Affective reactivity; Event stressfulness; MDD; Negative affect; Pleasantness.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Affect / physiology*
Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
Depressive Disorder, Major / physiopathology
Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Medical Records*
Middle Aged
Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods*
Monitoring, Ambulatory / psychology*
Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Young Adult