Emotional functioning in depressed and depression-vulnerable college students

Individuals classified as depressed, depression-vulnerable (formerly-depressed), and never-depressed reported attitudes about, and typical ways of reacting to, negative emotions. Differences were found between depressed and nondepressed participants and between depression-vulnerable (formerly-depressed) and less vulnerable (never-depressed) participants. Specifically, depressed individuals scored significantly higher than nondepressed participants on thought suppression as measured by the White Bear Suppression Inventory, and scored significantly lower on the Attention and Clarity scales of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS), as well as on willingness to self-disclose negative emotions as measured by the Emotional Self-disclosure Scale. Further, depression-vulnerable (formerly-depressed) individuals scored significantly higher than never-depressed participants on thought suppression and significantly lower on TMMS Clarity but did not differ significantly on the Attention TMMS subscale or in reported willingness to self-disclose negative emotions. (Original abstract)