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Prior research has implicated poor cognitive control and a perceived lack of control over stress in depression. However, no studies have explored whether perceived stress uncontrollability acts as a mediator translating cognitive control deficits into depression. Indeed, it is possible that poor cognitive control interferes with individuals’ tendency to refocus on planning and/or positively reappraise stress, increasing the perceived uncontrollability of stressors and subsequently conferring vulnerability to depression. The current study tests two new integrative models linking poor cognitive control with depression via a low tendency to refocus on planning (model 1) or to positively reappraise stressors (model 2) and subsequent perceived stress uncontrollability in emerging adults during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are 154 undergraduates aged 18 to 23. The study is part of a longitudinal project conducted online and will use self-reports from the first 4 timepoints, collected between April 2nd and June 8th, 2020.

Prior research has implicated rumination in the link between impaired cognitive control and depression, but only indirectly through stress generation and, potentially, perceived control over stressors. Further, recent studies suggest that it is repetitive negative thinking in general, rather than rumination per se, that acts as a link in these chains. However, these models have not been directly tested. Therefore, the current study aims to explore two new models, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future major stressors. We predict that poor cognitive control is linked to depression via repetitive negative thinking following stress generation (model 1) and following perceived stress uncontrollability (model 2). These hypotheses will be tested in 154 undergraduates aged 18 to 23. The study is part of a longitudinal project conducted online via Qualtrics; the proposed analyses will use self-reports from the first 4 timepoints, collected between April 2nd and June 8th, 2020.

Updated preregistration for "Coping with COVID stress: Adaptive and maladaptive response styles predicting college student internalizing symptoms". Due to an error, the CU Boulder site omitted the Stress Frequency item ("how often the event has happened") from the Covid-19 Stress Questionnaire (CSQ). Thus, we are not able to measure total stress by weighting Stress Severity x Stress Frequency as outlined in the original preregistration. Instead, we will use Stress Severity alone as our total stress measure. The updated preregistration reflects this change in analysis. This preregistration contains the introduction, methods, and data analysis plan sections of this study.

Attentional Control Theory (ACT), which has received consistent support (Shi et al., 2019), proposes that the ability to successfully shift and focus attention is interrupted by anxiety, as attention is allocated to perceived threatening information (Eysenck et al., 2007). Emerging adulthood tends to be a time of increased anxiety symptoms (Barsy et al., 2010; Daviu et al., 2019; Edwards et al., 2017; Hidalgo et al., 2001; Kumsta et al., 2017; McLaughlin & Hatzenbuehler, 2009; Miloyan et al., 2018), and AC is especially important at this time in order to excel in undergraduate programs. Thus, it is important to study potential mechanisms that contribute to the anxiety – attentional control (AC) link during this period. Stress, which is also highly prevalent in young adults, specifically college undergraduates, is a well-known risk factor for anxiety (Sarafino & Ewing, 1999) and has also been correlated with impaired AC (Bardeen & Daniel, 2017; Gulley et al., 2016; Jonsdottir et al., 2017; Kushner & Tackett, 2017; Laceulle et al., 2015; Liston et al., 2006, 2009; Orem et al., 2008; Shields et al., 2016; Skosnik et al., 2000). The well-established relation between stress and anxiety may help explain the negative relation between stress and AC. Therefore, since stress is a known risk factor for both anxiety and impaired AC, and anxiety is known to impair AC, anxiety may mediate the relation between stress and AC. The current study assessed whether anxiety mediates the effect of stressful life events on AC over time.

The current study models the dimensional structure of internalizing psychopathology (ascertained with self-report questionnaires), and tests there relation with lifetime and current diagnoses of major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and panic disorder (PD) (ascertained with semi-structured diagnostic interviews), in a combined sample of adults across three sites.

The preregistration for "The Mediating Effects of Stress on Executive Functioning and Internalizing Disorders During COVID-19"

The current study investigates the following research questions. First, is sexual identity ambiguity distress in emerging adults associated with higher internalizing symptoms? Second, does perceived social support reduce the association between sexual identity ambiguity distress and internalizing symptoms? Third, if so, does stress buffering differ by family vs. peer support? This research addresses several key gaps in prior literature. First, previous studies have assessed ambiguity of sexual identity (not distress about this ambiguity) and assumed it as a negative factor in identity formation. However, this potentially confounds sexual identity ambiguity distress with sexual identity fluidity (i.e., the capacity for situation-dependent flexibility in sexual responsiveness). Although fluidity also involves ambiguity, it does not necessarily have negative impacts in overall sexual identity formation in emerging adulthood as this flexibility is a part of an emerging adult’s sexual identity rather than a result of sexual identity ambiguity distress. Therefore, the current study asks directly if reported sexual identity ambiguity is distressing. Second, previous research has focused on the differences between emerging adults that are strictly heterosexual vs. LGBTQIA+ identified. Emerging adults experiencing sexual identity ambiguity distress do not fall clearly into a marginalized community or sexual identity category (heterosexual or sexual minority). However, this under-studied population of emerging adults may be impacted by stressors, social support interactions and mental health outcomes in similar ways to those in sexual minority emerging adults. The current study builds on the findings of prior studies investigating the close association of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and identity distress, as a foundation for investigating potentially similar associations between internalizing symptoms and sexual identity ambiguity distress.

Examining the moderating role of executive functioning (EF) in the link between stressful life events (SLEs) and suboptimal decision-making under ambiguity in emerging adults, using a computerized behavioral task measuring optimal decision-making under ambiguity and online questionnaires assessing risk-taking propensity, EF, and SLEs.

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-cpx-10.1177_21677026211071091 for Gray-Matter Morphometry of Internalizing-Symptom Dimensions During Adolescence by Harry R. Smolker, Hannah R. Snyder, Benjamin L. Hankin and Marie T. Banich in Clinical Psychological Science

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-eax-10.1177_21676968211054969 for Dependent Stress Generation Mediates the Relation Between Poor Cognitive Control and Repetitive Negative Thinking in Emerging Adults by Morgan M. Taylor and Hannah R. Snyder in Emerging Adulthood

Supplemental material, Supplemental_material for Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities by Hannah R. Snyder, Naomi P. Friedman and Benjamin L. Hankin in Assessment

Supplemental material, Supplemental_Materials_Resubmission for Dependent Stress Mediates the Relation Between ADHD Symptoms and Depression by Natali Rychik, Alyssa Fassett-Carman and Hannah R. Snyder in Journal of Attention Disorders

Supplemental material, Supplemental_material for Associations Between Task Performance and Self-Report Measures of Cognitive Control: Shared Versus Distinct Abilities by Hannah R. Snyder, Naomi P. Friedman and Benjamin L. Hankin in Assessment

Supplemental material, Kaiser_Supplemental_Material for Attention Bias in Rumination and Depression: Cognitive Mechanisms and Brain Networks by Roselinde H. Kaiser, Hannah R. Snyder, Franziska Goer, Rachel Clegg, Manon Ironside and Diego A. Pizzagalli in Clinical Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Kaiser_Open_Practices_Disclosure for Attention Bias in Rumination and Depression: Cognitive Mechanisms and Brain Networks by Roselinde H. Kaiser, Hannah R. Snyder, Franziska Goer, Rachel Clegg, Manon Ironside and Diego A. Pizzagalli in Clinical Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Hamlat_Open_Practices_Disclosure for Pubertal Timing as a Transdiagnostic Risk for Psychopathology in Youth by Elissa J. Hamlat, Hannah R. Snyder, Jami F. Young and Benjamin L. Hankin in Clinical Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Supplementary_Tables_1_2 for Subjective Executive Function Weaknesses Are Linked to Elevated Internalizing Symptoms Among Community Adolescents by Benjamin C. Mullin, Emmaly L. Perks, Dustin A. Haraden, Hannah R. Snyder and Benjamin L. Hankin in Assessment

Supplemental material, Hamlat_Supplemental_Material for Pubertal Timing as a Transdiagnostic Risk for Psychopathology in Youth by Elissa J. Hamlat, Hannah R. Snyder, Jami F. Young and Benjamin L. Hankin in Clinical Psychological Science

Supplemental material, Supplemental_Materials_9.1.18 for A Reformulated Architecture of Cognitive Risks for Psychopathology: Common and Specific Dimensions and Links to Internalizing Outcomes in Adolescence by Tina H. Schweizer, Hannah R. Snyder and Benjamin L. Hankin in Assessment