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Depression, anxiety, and stress and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind wandering

Publication ,  Journal Article
Seli, P; Beaty, RE; Marty-Dugas, J; Smilek, D
Published in: Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice
June 1, 2019

We examined whether the previously documented association between mind wandering and affective dysfunction depends, at least to some extent, on whether mind wandering episodes are intentional or unintentional. In two large samples, we assessed trait-level rates of intentional and unintentional mind wandering, as well as three different types of affective dysfunction: depression, anxiety, and stress. Results indicated that, whereas unintentional mind wandering was uniquely positively associated with all three types of affective dysfunction, intentional mind wandering was uniquely (albeit very weakly) negatively associated with stress and anxiety and had no relation to depression. These findings indicate that people who more frequently engage in unintentional types of mind wandering are more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and that intentional mind wandering may buffer against these types of affective dysfunction.

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Published In

Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice

DOI

EISSN

2326-5531

ISSN

2326-5523

Publication Date

June 1, 2019

Volume

6

Issue

2

Start / End Page

163 / 170

Related Subject Headings

  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Seli, P., Beaty, R. E., Marty-Dugas, J., & Smilek, D. (2019). Depression, anxiety, and stress and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind wandering. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice, 6(2), 163–170. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000182
Seli, P., R. E. Beaty, J. Marty-Dugas, and D. Smilek. “Depression, anxiety, and stress and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind wandering.” Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice 6, no. 2 (June 1, 2019): 163–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000182.
Seli P, Beaty RE, Marty-Dugas J, Smilek D. Depression, anxiety, and stress and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind wandering. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice. 2019 Jun 1;6(2):163–70.
Seli, P., et al. “Depression, anxiety, and stress and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind wandering.” Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice, vol. 6, no. 2, June 2019, pp. 163–70. Scopus, doi:10.1037/cns0000182.
Seli P, Beaty RE, Marty-Dugas J, Smilek D. Depression, anxiety, and stress and the distinction between intentional and unintentional mind wandering. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice. 2019 Jun 1;6(2):163–170.

Published In

Psychology of Consciousness: Theory Research, and Practice

DOI

EISSN

2326-5531

ISSN

2326-5523

Publication Date

June 1, 2019

Volume

6

Issue

2

Start / End Page

163 / 170

Related Subject Headings

  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology