Is Future Mental Imagery Associated with Reduced Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Negative Affect and Anhedonic Symptoms in Young People?

Abstract

Background Difficulties with prospective mental images are associated with adolescent depression. Current treatments mainly focus on verbal techniques to reduce negative affect (e.g. low mood) rather than enhancing positive affect, despite anhedonia being present in adolescents. We investigated the concurrent relationships between the vividness of negative and positive prospective mental imagery and negative affect and positive affect; and examined whether negative and positive prospective mental imagery moderated the impact of recent stress (COVID-19-linked stress) on negative and positive affect. Methods 2602 young people (12–25 years) completed the Prospective Imagery Task and self-reported on symptoms of negative affect, anhedonia and COVID-19 linked stress. Results Elevated vividness of negative future mental imagery and reduced vividness of positive future mental imagery were associated with increased negative affect, whereas only reduced vividness of positive future imagery was associated with increased symptoms of anhedonia. Elevated vividness of negative future images amplified the association between COVID-19 linked stress and negative affect, while elevated vividness of positive future images attenuated the association between COVID-19 linked stress and anhedonia. Conclusions Future mental imagery may be differentially associated with negative and positive affect, but this needs to be replicated in clinical populations to support novel adolescent psychological treatments.

Does Prospective Mental Imagery Predict Symptoms of Negative Affect and Anhedonia in Young People?

“…We recently elaborated on these associations, again in adolescents, finding differential associations between future mental imagery variables and two key symptom dimensions of depression: negative affect and anhedonia. Our data showed that increased vividness of negative future imagery and reduced vividness of positive future imagery were associated with increased negative affect, but only reduced vividness of positive future imagery was associated with increased symptoms of anhedonia [21].…”

“…The SHAPS (based on [39]) is a measure of anhedonia comprising 14 items. This study used an adapted version of the SHAPS [21], for use in young people during the pandemic by removing five items that were less relevant during lockdown conditions). The remaining nine statements were presented to participants (e.g.…”

“…In order to develop innovative cognitive-behavioural preventative programmes, we need to better understand the cognitive correlates and precursors of adolescent depression. Previous research [21] has drawn on the potential of future mental imagery, the ability to imagine future images vividly, as an intervention target in preventative programmes. Hutchinson et al [21] investigated whether vividness of future mental imagery, both positive and negative, associated with two core symptoms of adolescent depression: negative affect and anhedonia (lack of positive affect).…”

“…Previous research [21] has drawn on the potential of future mental imagery, the ability to imagine future images vividly, as an intervention target in preventative programmes. Hutchinson et al [21] investigated whether vividness of future mental imagery, both positive and negative, associated with two core symptoms of adolescent depression: negative affect and anhedonia (lack of positive affect). However, as these previous associations were limited by the study's cross-sectional design, the present study aimed to explore the across-time associations using longitudinal data.…”

“…Drawing on the cross-sectional findings by Hutchinson et al, [21], we made three hypotheses: (i) that increased vividness of negative future imagery at baseline would be associated with greater negative affect at follow-up, (ii) reduced vividness of positive future imagery at baseline would also be associated with greater negative affect at follow-up, and (iii) reduced vividness of positive future imagery at baseline would be associated with increased anhedonia at follow-up. We used data gathered from young people during the lockdown phases of the COVID-19 pandemic to test our hypotheses.…”