Pleasure Now, Pain Later: Positive Fantasies About the Future Predict Symptoms of Depression

Psychological Science
Gabriele OettingenSam Portnow

Abstract

Though common sense suggests that positive thinking shelters people from depression, the four studies reported here showed that this intuition needs to be qualified: Positive thinking in the form of fantasies about the future did indeed relate to decreased symptoms of depression when measured concurrently; however, positive fantasies predicted more depressive symptoms when measured longitudinally. The pattern of results was observed for different indicators of fantasies and depression, in adults and in schoolchildren, and for periods of up to 7 months (Studies 1-4). In college students, low academic success partially mediated the predictive relation between positive fantasies and symptoms of depression (Study 4). Results add to existing research on the problematic effects of positive fantasies on performance by suggesting that indulging in positive fantasies predicts problems in mental health.

References

Sep 1, 1983·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·J M Golding, J L Singer
Jan 1, 1996·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·D A Beck, H G Koenig
May 8, 1998·The American Psychologist·S E TaylorD A Armor
Sep 22, 2005·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·Charles J HolahanKathleen K Schutte
Jul 22, 2008·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Carolyn A McCartyElizabeth McCauley
Aug 14, 2008·Behavior Research Methods·Kristopher J Preacher, Andrew F Hayes
Sep 11, 2009·Psychology and Aging·Sheung-Tak ChengAlfred C M Chan
Jan 19, 2012·Psychological Assessment·Gian Vittorio CapraraJohn Abela
Feb 21, 2013·Psychology and Aging·Frieder R LangGert G Wagner
Sep 3, 2014·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·Rory C O'ConnorJ Mark G Williams
Sep 1, 2008·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Susan Nolen-HoeksemaSonja Lyubomirsky
Oct 16, 2015·Emotion·Kate SweenyMichael D Dooley

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 16, 2016·Journal of Affective Disorders·Regina MirandaBrett Marroquín
Mar 9, 2017·Consciousness and Cognition·Natalia MacrynikolaRegina Miranda
Dec 18, 2019·Cognition & Emotion·A Timur SevincerGabriele Oettingen
Feb 26, 2020·The British Journal of Developmental Psychology·Manila VannucciErsilia Menesini
May 18, 2020·Behaviour Research and Therapy·D J HallfordA D'Argembeau

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Medical Journal of Australia
C G McDaniel
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved