Fear of happiness predicts concurrent but not prospective depressive symptoms in adolescents

Background It is increasingly recognised that the study of responses to positive emotions significantly contributes our understanding psychopathology. Notably, are not necessarily experienced as pleasurable. Instead, some believe experiencing happiness may have negative consequences, referred fear (FOH), or they experience a losing control over (FOLC). According reward devaluation theory, such an association positivity with outcomes will result in stimuli being devalued time, contributing maintaining depressive symptoms. The prospective relationship between fears and symptoms yet be examined adolescents. present longitudinal investigated whether FOH FOLC prospectively predict Method 128 adolescents 16-18 years age (M = 16.87, SD 0.80) recruited from two secondary schools Flanders, Belgium, completed measures (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales) including consummatory anhedonia, (Fear Happiness Scale), (Affective Control Scale) their classroom at baseline 2-months follow-up. Regression analyses were performed test FOH, FOLC, Results concurrently, but prospectively, predicted There was no significant anhedonia. predictor Conclusion These findings suggest only concurrently related Considering prior adults, future research should investigate anticipatory anhedonia