The association between adaptive and maladaptive forms of response styles and voluntary attention control

Abstract

According to the response style theory, human responses to a depressive mood are divided into two styles: ruminative and distractive responses. Although response styles reportedly have both adaptive and maladaptive aspects, the factor associated with the adaptiveness of these response styles is unclear. The present study examined the mediation and moderation effects of voluntary attention control skills (selective, divided, and switching attention) on the relationship between adaptive/maladaptive forms of ruminative/distractive response styles and depression. In total, 234 Japanese undergraduates completed questionnaires of response styles, attention control skills, and depressive symptom. Selective attention and divided attention skill mediated the effects of adaptive response styles on depression. In addition, when combined with higher divided attention skill, the increase of depression by maladaptive response styles was mitigated. These results suggest that attention control skills could explain the adaptive process of response styles, and that heightening particular skills would be efficacious in reducing depression.