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The Interaction Between Positive and Negative Temperament in Anxiety and Depression: Examples From the Tripartite, Big Five, and Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Models

Harbaugh, Casaundra N.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250528268

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Research has demonstrated that risk for psychological disorders does not lie in single factors or main effects, but rather in the interaction and co-action of multiple factors. Consistent with this, the Tripartite, Big Five, and Reinforcement Sensitivity models all posit the dual influence of positive and negative emotionality in risk for depression. Specifically, the Tripartite Model posits the dual influence of positive and negative affectivity (PA and NA, respectively), the Big Five Model posits the dual influence of extraversion and neuroticism (E and N, respectively), and the Reinforcement Sensitivity Model posits the dual influence of behavioral activation and inhibition (BAS and BIS, respectively). Research involving each of these theories suggests that positive and negative emotionality interact to predict depressive, and to some extent, anxious symptoms. To further understand the nature and reliability of this interaction, the present study provided a cross-sectional test of the interactions between the positive and negative emotionality dimensions of the Tripartite, Big Five, and Reinforcement Sensitivity models in a large sample of undergraduates (N = 1242). It was hypothesized that, for each set of temperament dimensions, at low positive emotionality, high negative emotionality would be more strongly associated with depressive and mixed anxious-depressive symptoms and that at high negative emotionality, low positive emotionality would be more strongly associated with anhedonic symptoms. Results indicated that the interactions between all three sets of temperament variables are indeed associated with such symptoms, but that the exact nature of the association depends on the set of temperament constructs and the type of symptoms considered. Specifically, results indicated that the NA x PA interaction predicted all three types of symptoms such that high NA was more strongly associated with depressive and mixed anxious-depressive symptoms when PA was low and low PA was more strongly associated with anhedonic depressive symptoms when NA was high; that the N x E interaction predicted depressive and mixed anxious-depressive symptoms such that high N was more strongly associated with symptoms when E was low; and that while the BIS x BAS interaction also predicted depressive and mixed anxious-depressive symptoms, the form of this interaction was unexpected. Specifically, high BIS was more strongly associated with symptoms than low BIS when BAS was high. However, the expected pattern was found for anhedonic symptoms, when the interaction between BIS and the Reward Responsiveness facet of BAS was considered. That is, anhedonic symptoms were more strongly associated with low levels of Reward Responsiveness at high versus low levels of BIS. Implications for theory, prevention, and treatment are discussed.
Michael Vasey, PhD (Advisor)
Daniel Strunk, PhD (Committee Member)
Jennifer Cheavens, PhD (Committee Member)
113 p.
Psychology

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Citations

  • Harbaugh, C. N. (2009). The Interaction Between Positive and Negative Temperament in Anxiety and Depression: Examples From the Tripartite, Big Five, and Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Models [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250528268

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Harbaugh, Casaundra. The Interaction Between Positive and Negative Temperament in Anxiety and Depression: Examples From the Tripartite, Big Five, and Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Models. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250528268.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Harbaugh, Casaundra. "The Interaction Between Positive and Negative Temperament in Anxiety and Depression: Examples From the Tripartite, Big Five, and Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Models." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250528268

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.