Abstract
The present study examined influences of trait meta-mood on memory bias in non-clinical depression. University students (N = 32) participated in individual experiments using the process-dissociation procedure, which can separate the contributions of automatic and controlled processing on memory performance. Participants studied positive and negative personality trait words by rating the self-descriptiveness of each word. Then they recalled the words based on presented cues in the repeated, two test condition, the inclusion test condition, and the exclusion test condition, in counterbalanced order. Then, the participants completed the Multiple Mood Scale Short version, Trait-Meta Mood Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. The probability of a positive, or a negative studied word automatically coming to mind, or the probability of consciously recollecting the words were calculated by using process-dissociation procedure equations. A two-way factorial analysis of variance was conducted to separately determine the influences of depression. Results indicated that the probability of automatic processing was significantly higher in depressed participants for positive than for negative words, indicating a mood-incongruent memory bias in depression. However, depression did not influence the probability of controlled processing. Then, the moderating, or mediating roles of trait meta-mood on the memory bias in depression was analyzed. The results indicated that attitudes taking account of the mood might moderate the relationship between depression and memory. These results suggest the possibility that an unconscious, mood-incongruent memory bias in non-clinical depression might prevent the progression of depression. The findings are discussed in terms of preventive effects of mindfulness and acceptance.
