A Longitudinal Examination of Regulatory Focus Theory ’ s Application to Adolescent Psychopathology

A Longitudinal Examination of Regulatory Focus Theory’s Application to Adolescent Psychopathology by Megan McCrudden Klenk Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ Timothy Strauman, Supervisor ___________________________ Philip Costanzo ___________________________ John Curry ___________________________ Marilyn Essex An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience in the Graduate School of Duke University 2011 Copyright by Megan McCrudden Klenk 2011 iv Abstract Higgins’ regulatory focus theory (1997) postulates two cognitive/motivational systems for pursuing desired end states: the promotion and prevention systems. The theory predicts that failure in each system is discriminantly associated with dysphoric and anxious affect respectively; and that significant failure in these systems creates vulnerability to depression and anxiety. This study tested these hypotheses among adolescents who took part in the longitudinal Wisconsin Study of Families and Work. We found partial support for the theory’s predictions. Specifically, the original adult Selves Questionnaire (SQ), which was administered at age 13, did not demonstrate the expected discriminant associations with dysphoric and anxious affect and symptoms. However, the Selves Questionnaire – Adolescent Version, which was administered at age 15, yielded partial support for the theory. Ideal self-discrepancy was discriminantly associated with depressive affect but ought self-discrepancy was not discriminantly associated with anxious affect. However, feared self-discrepancy was discriminantly associated with anxious affect, which adds to the literature suggesting that feared selfdiscrepancy might be a better construct to use in measuring prevention failure among adolescents. The association between self-discrepancy and affect was found crosssectionally but not longitudinally. The study also tested recently formulated predictions of regulatory focus theory which state that significant failure in one regulatory system is likely to negatively impact the other system (Klenk, Strauman, & Higgins, 2011). No