Dynamic Measures of Emotional and Cognitive Reactivity in College Students

Questionnaire and mood-induction measures of emotional and cognitive reactivity (ER and CR) have noteworthy strengths as well as potential liabilities (as do virtually all measures of psychological constructs). Toward a solution to the fallible measurement problem, methodologists have long advocated utilizing qualitatively diverse assessment methods to converge upon the constructs of interests. The current article introduces and provides initial validation of the Behind Your Back measure that (unlike any other measure) simultaneously assesses both ER and CR in college students via methods that avoid some of the problems associated with conventional measures. For both ER and CR, 3 dimensions are hypothesized, representing (a) person-driven, (b) event-driven, and (c) person/event-driven aspects of ER and CR. Results support this tripartite structure and provide evidence of convergent and construct validity of the method, including significant relations to self-reported symptoms of depression. Implications of these BYB-derived dimensions for theory and enhancing practice are discussed. Public Significance Statement Previous theory and research show that, compared with nondepressed people, depressed individuals are more likely to have (a) negative thoughts when they are sad, and (b) qualitatively different emotional reactions to stressful situations. In the current article, a novel methodology for assessing these characteristics is introduced in order to facilitate such research in college students.