Author(s)

Rie Tabuchi¹, Asami Yamazaki², Megumi Oikawa²

¹The United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan.
²Faculty of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan.

Self-focused attention is a primary risk factor for depression in adolescents. Previous studies have suggested that sustained self-focus ultimately leads to depression. However, in recent years, it has been suggested that focusing on all aspects of the self, both positive and negative, has a positive effect on mental health. Hence, in this study, we aimed to explore adaptive self-focusing and examined the effects on mood following manipulation of the self-aspect (i.e., both positive and negative aspects of self, only positive, and only negative). Eighty-eight Japanese undergraduate and graduate students participated in the experiment. Results suggest that focusing on both positive and negative aspects of the self does not amplify depressed mood. Furthermore, this type of self-focus also does not decrease positive mood, and exhibits the same adaptive effects on mood as focusing only on positive aspects of the self.

Self-Focused Attention, Depressed Mood, Positive Mood, Self-Aspect

Tabuchi, R. , Yamazaki, A. and Oikawa, M. (2017) The Effects of Self-Focused Attention on Mood: Differences of Self-Aspect Valence while Self-Focusing. Psychology, 8, 1414-1423. doi: 10.4236/psych.2017.89093.