Dysfunctional attitudes, stress, and negative emotions

Abstract

This research examined several hypotheses relating to the proposed moderating effect of dysfunctional attitudes on the relationship between stressful events and mood disturbance. Participants in Study 1 completed the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Daily Hassles Scale. As predicted, dysfunctional attitudes significantly moderated the relationship between the reported frequency of microstressors and dysphoria. Study 2 extended these findings by means of a laboratory experiment in which participants completed a video task under both minimally and moderately stressful social evaluative conditions. In further support of the proposal that dysfunctional attitudes enhance stress appraisals and negative emotions, individuals scoring high on the DAS displayed increased levels of physiological arousal, anxiety, and self-consciousness throughout the experimental procedures. In addition, these individuals perceived greater disapproval and rejection on the part of the experimenter in the moderately stressful condition than did individuals scoring low on the DAS. Findings from these two studies were discussed in terms of the role of dysfunctional attitudes in stress appraisals, and negative emotions such as anxiety and dysphoria.