E Samuel Winer1, Jessica Bryant2, Gregory Bartoszek3, Enrique Rojas4, Michael R Nadorff5, Jenna Kilgore6. 1. Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: e.samuel.winer@msstate.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: jcs579@msstate.edu. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 W. Harrison St. (M/C 285), Chicago, IL 60607, USA. Electronic address: gbarto3@uic.edu. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 W. Harrison St. (M/C 285), Chicago, IL 60607, USA. Electronic address: enriquerojas91@gmail.com. 5. Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA; Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza - BCM350, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: mn478@msstate.edu. 6. Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: jkk99@msstate.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Anxiety and depression are often comorbid conditions, but there is uncertainty as to how this comorbidity develops. Thus, in three studies, we attempted to discern whether anhedonia may be a key linking factor between anxiety and depression. METHODS: Three studies asked participants about their symptoms of anxiety and depression: in Study 1, 109 participants completed measures of anxiety, depression, activity avoidance, and perceived enjoyability and importance of avoided activities; in Study 2, 747 participants completed measures of anhedonia, anxiety, depression, and defensiveness; in Study 3, 216 participants completed measures assessing the same constructs as in Study 2 at four time-points (ranging 11 months in span). RESULTS: In Study 1, symptoms of anxiety and depression were positively related only in individuals who relinquished potential enjoyment due to their anxiety-related avoidance; in Study 2, the indirect effect of anhedonia helped explained how anxiety symptoms imparted risk onto depressive symptoms; and in Study 3, anxiety led to anhedonia and then depression over time and anhedonia led to anxiety and then depression at both 5 and 11 months. LIMITATIONS: The manuscript is limited by the use of a student sample in study 2, cross-sectional methods in studies 1 and 2, and reliance on self-ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety may devolve into depression through anhedonia, such that anxious individuals begin to lose pleasure in anxiety-provoking activities, which results in the development of other depressive symptoms.
INTRODUCTION:Anxiety and depression are often comorbid conditions, but there is uncertainty as to how this comorbidity develops. Thus, in three studies, we attempted to discern whether anhedonia may be a key linking factor between anxiety and depression. METHODS: Three studies asked participants about their symptoms of anxiety and depression: in Study 1, 109 participants completed measures of anxiety, depression, activity avoidance, and perceived enjoyability and importance of avoided activities; in Study 2, 747 participants completed measures of anhedonia, anxiety, depression, and defensiveness; in Study 3, 216 participants completed measures assessing the same constructs as in Study 2 at four time-points (ranging 11 months in span). RESULTS: In Study 1, symptoms of anxiety and depression were positively related only in individuals who relinquished potential enjoyment due to their anxiety-related avoidance; in Study 2, the indirect effect of anhedonia helped explained how anxiety symptoms imparted risk onto depressive symptoms; and in Study 3, anxiety led to anhedonia and then depression over time and anhedonia led to anxiety and then depression at both 5 and 11 months. LIMITATIONS: The manuscript is limited by the use of a student sample in study 2, cross-sectional methods in studies 1 and 2, and reliance on self-ratings. CONCLUSIONS:Anxiety may devolve into depression through anhedonia, such that anxious individuals begin to lose pleasure in anxiety-provoking activities, which results in the development of other depressive symptoms.
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