Repository logo
 

The protective role of awe on self-focused attention and depressive symptoms

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSung, Angelina, author
dc.contributor.authorSteger, Michael F., advisor
dc.contributor.authorEmery, Noah N., advisor
dc.contributor.authorPrince, Mark A., committee member
dc.contributor.authorLuong, Gloria, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-01T17:26:57Z
dc.date.available2023-06-01T17:26:57Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractDepression is a public health concern that negatively affects millions of individuals living in the United States. Maladaptive self-focused attention has been found to strongly predict the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms. Awe is a positive emotion that may protect against this cognitive vulnerability given its ability to elicit the "small self." The present study examined whether awe buffered against the impact of self-focus on depressive symptoms at both the trait and state level. A sample of 286 students were recruited from an undergraduate research pool. Participants completed an online survey that assessed for different measures of self-focus (i.e., first-person singular pronouns, rumination), trait positive emotions, depressive symptoms, and positive and negative affect. One week later, they were randomized to watch an awe-eliciting video or amusement-eliciting video and subsequently completed another survey that assessed for rumination, "small self" feelings, state positive emotions, and positive and negative affect. Results indicated mixed findings. At the trait level, depressive symptoms were positively associated with rumination (but not first-person singular pronouns). This positive association between self-focus and depressive symptoms was attenuated as levels of awe increased when using the measure of rumination, but not the measure of first-person singular pronouns. At the state level, rumination was positively associated with "small self" feelings. In addition, no interaction was found between the effects of the awe inductions and "small self" feelings in relation to rumination. While researchers have proposed that awe has a potential therapeutic role in depression, this study appears to be the first to provide empirical support at the trait level. Future research should examine the relationship between rumination and "small self" feelings or consider more potent elicitors of awe when understanding its effects at the state level.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierSung_colostate_0053N_17595.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/236551
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectdepression
dc.subjectself-focus
dc.subjectpositive emotions
dc.subjectawe
dc.titleThe protective role of awe on self-focused attention and depressive symptoms
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Sung_colostate_0053N_17595.pdf
Size:
884.21 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

2020-
Theses and Dissertations