Adaptive functions of self-focused attention: Insight and depressive and anxiety symptoms. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nakajima, Miho; Takano, Keisuke; Tanno, Yoshihiko
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 249(2017)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 280
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Self-focused attention -- Depression -- Anxiety -- Transdiagnostic factor; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Maladaptive forms of self-focus, such as rumination, are considered transdiagnostic factors that contribute to depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, no or few studies have explored the possibility that adaptive forms of self-focus can also be a common factor that is negatively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. To test this possibility, we first examined the psychometric properties of a scale measuring adaptive forms of self-focus (the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale) on Japanese undergraduates ( n =117). We replicated the two-factor structure of the scale: (a) self-reflection, which is a tendency to focus purposefully on self for self-regulation, and (b) insight, which is a sense of clear self-understanding. Second, we tested our specific hypothesis that these two factors negatively predict a common factor of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The results of structural equation modeling showed that insight (but not self-reflection) has a significant negative association with a latent variable that explains both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, this common-factor model explained the data better than a control model in which insight predicts depressive and anxiety symptoms individually. These results suggest that (lack of) insight plays an important role in psychological (mal)adjustment as a shared process in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Highlights: Association between adaptive self-focus and depressive and anxiety symptoms was examined. We found higher insight is a common characteristic of decreased level of both symptoms. This emphasized importance of interventions aiming to increase patients' self-insight.