The surprising upsides of worry

Abstract

Worry is an aversive emotional experience that arises alongside repetitive unpleasant thoughts about the future. In this paper, we argue that although extreme levels of worry are associated with depressed mood, poor physical health, and even mental illness, worry has an upside. We focus on two empirically supported benefits of worry: its motivational benefits and its benefit as an emotional buffer. Regarding motivation, worry illuminates the importance of taking action to prevent an undesirable outcome and keeps the situation at the front of one's mind to ensure that appropriate action is taken. It also triggers efforts to mitigate the consequences of bad news, motivates productive behavior that in turn reduces worry, and enhances the effectiveness of goal‐directed action by prompting people to focus on obstacles that might derail best‐laid plans. Worry can also serve as an emotional buffer by providing a desirable contrast to subsequent affective reactions, particularly for people who are prone to high levels of worry.

The Role of Gender in Worry and Efforts to Cope during Stressful Waiting Periods

“…Studies of emotions and coping during waiting periods have documented high levels of anxiety, surpassing even the anxiety of receiving highly consequential bad news (e.g., failing the bar exam; Sweeny & Falkenstein, 2015). During these acute moments of uncertainty, many coping strategies do little to alleviate worry (defined in these studies as a combination of anxiety and persistent, repetitive thoughts-distinct from the past-focused repetitive thoughts characteristic of rumination; Sweeny & Dooley, 2017), in some cases even backfiring and exacerbating distress (Sweeny, Reynolds, Falkenstein, Andrews, & Dooley, 2016). Second, given that waiting reliably rattles even the most upbeat, optimistic individuals (Sweeny & Falkenstein, 2015), we went beyond testing simple gender differences to examine the role of gender in the link between worry and coping in these acute moments of uncertainty.…”

Fulfilling psychological needs predicts less sleep disruption and worry while awaiting uncertain news

“…In the present inquiry, we focus on these two key well‐being markers. We operationalize worry as a combination of anxiety and repetitive thoughts about a feared future outcome (Sweeny & Dooley, ). Previous work established anxiety as the emotional hallmark of waiting periods (Sweeny & Falkenstein, ), and people report frequent perseverative thinking as they await news about an important outcome (Howell & Sweeny, ; Sweeny et al, ; Sweeny & Falkenstein, ).…”

Divided we stand, united we worry: Predictors of worry in anticipation of a political election

“…Worry. Worry about the outcome of the midterm election was assessed with three items, capturing both the affective and cognitive components of worry (Sweeny & Dooley, 2017; "I feel anxious every time I think about the outcome of the midterm elections," "I am worried about the outcome of the midterm elections," "I can't seem to stop thinking about the outcome of the midterm elections"; 1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree; M = 3.86, SD = 1.50, Cronbach's α = .87).…”

“…of the situation or person that heighten this stressful sense of uncertainty are likely to exacerbate worry. Second, worry has a motivating function, such that it directs attention and effort toward opportunities to prevent future problems if possible (Borkovec & Roemer, 1995; for a review, see Sweeny & Dooley, 2017). However, this motivational drive can only be satisfied if people have control over the relevant future outcome; otherwise, worry's function is thwarted.…”