Effects of induced mood on self-reported life events and perceived and received social support.
This study tested the relation between mood (depressed [D], elated [E], or neutral [N]), induced by the Velten (1968) procedure, and college students' responses on a subjectively scored life events questionnaire and measures of perceived and received social support. A manipulation check showed that the mood manipulation was successful. There was a significant mood effect on the number of self-reported negative life events, with E subjects reporting the fewest. However, mood had no significant effect on the number of self-reported positive life events or the rated intensity of negative and positive events. Mood had a significant effect on perceived social support, with D subjects scoring the lowest. Self-report of received social support, however, was not affected by the mood manipulation. The findings challenge the widespread use of life event and perceived social support questionnaires whose independence from a mood-related response bias has not been adequately demonstrated. The findings also challenge causal interpretation of significant effects for self-reported life stress and perceived social support obtained in cross-sectional prediction studies of concurrent psychological distress.
Cohen
L H
LH
Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark 19716.
Towbes
L C
LC
Flocco
R
R
D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires