Internet-delivered cognitive control training as a preventive intervention for remitted depressed patients : protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Preventing recurrence of depression forms an important challenge for current treatments. Cognitive control impairments often remain present during remission of depression, putting remitted depressed patients at heightened risk for new depressive episodes by disrupting emotion regulation processes. Importantly, research indicates that cognitive control training targeting working memory functioning shows potential in reducing maladaptive emotion regulation and depressive symptomatology in clinically depressed patients and at-risk student samples. The current study aims to test the effectiveness of cognitive control training as a preventive intervention in a remitted depressed sample, exploring effects of cognitive control training on rumination and depressive symptomatology, along with indicators of adaptive emotion regulation and functioning. Methods/design: We present a double blind randomized controlled design. Remitted depressed adults will complete 10 online sessions of a cognitive control training targeting working memory functioning or a low cognitive load training (active control condition) over a period of 14 days. Effects of training on primary outcome measures of rumination and depressive symptomatology will be assessed pre-post training and at three months follow-up, along with secondary outcome measure adaptive emotion regulation. Long-term effects of cognitive control training on broader indicators of functioning will be assessed at three months follow-up (secondary outcome measures). Discussion: This study will provide information about the effectiveness of cognitive control training for remitted depressed adults in reducing vulnerability for depression. Furthermore, this study will address key questions concerning the mechanisms underlying the effects of cognitive control training, will take into account the subjective experience of the patients (including a self-report measure for cognitive functioning), and explore whether these effects extend to broad measures of functioning such as Quality of Life and disability

Negative influences of Facebook use through the lens of network analysis

Various recent studies suggest a negative association between Facebook use and mental health. Yet, empirical evidence for this association is mixed, raising the question under which conditions Facebook use is related to negative outcomes, such as decreased well-being. Our study addresses this question by investigating the relationship between Facebook use, rumination, depressive, anxiety-, and stress-related symptoms, taking into account potential key variables such as social comparison, contingent self-esteem, and global self-esteem. In a first study, we explored the unique relations between these constructs using state-of-the-art network analysis. Subsequently, we conducted a preregistered replication study. In both studies, social comparison and self-esteem held a central position in the network, connecting social media use with indicators of psychopathology. These findings highlight the prominent role of social comparison and self-esteem in the context of social media use and well-being. Longitudinal and experimental studies will be required to further investigate these relationships

#ContextMatters! A network tree approach to model the link between social media use and well-being

Use of social networking sites (SNS) has been related to both positive as well as more detrimental outcomes, where effects of SNS use on functioning may be moderated by contextual factors. The coronavirus pandemic provides a context in which intensity of SNS use to stay connected or informed may differentially impact functioning depending on specific contexts of SNS use. This cross-sectional study investigated whether patterns of connectivity between SNS use to stay connected or informed and broader indicators of functioning (social provision, loneliness, internalizing symptoms, and quality of life) differed depending on COVID-19 relevant context factors. We applied network tree analysis on self-report data collected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 1433). The unique associations between the constructs of interest differed depending on illness (COVID-19) status and housing condition. Intensity of SNS use, depressive symptomatology, and loneliness were more strongly connected in network models obtained for COVID-19 unaffected individuals. Several unique associations were identified for those living alone, among which an association between SNS use to stay connected and quality of life. This study is the first to demonstrate complex moderation of patterns of connectivity between indicators of SNS use and (dys)functioning, by contextual factors

A network analysis of Facebook use and well-being in relation to key psychological variables : replication and extension

Studies exploring the relationship between Facebook use and well-being have yielded inconsistent findings. Investigating the intermediate mechanisms seems to be of crucial importance to gain insight into the positive and negative consequences of Facebook use. A recent study illustrated the importance of taking into account social comparison and self-esteem, as these constructs are central to theories about the link between Facebook use and risk for affective disorders. Extending these findings will be key to increase our knowledge on possible risk and/or protective intermediate mechanisms. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study (n = 459) to investigate the position of attention control and social capital in this previously reported network. Our results provide a conceptual replication of Faelens, Hoorelbeke, Fried, De Raedt, and Koster (2019). In addition, our findings suggest that attentional control does not play a central role in the relationship between Facebook use and well-being. However, (bridging) social capital uniquely connected the variables related to Facebook use with our indicators of vulnerability for affective disorders via social comparison and contingent self-esteem. Possible explanations are discussed.Studies exploring the relationship between Facebook use and well-being have yielded inconsistent findings. Investigating the intermediate mechanisms seems to be of crucial importance to gain insight into the positive and negative consequences of Facebook use. A recent study illustrated the importance of taking into account social comparison and self-esteem, as these constructs are central to theories about the link between Facebook use and risk for affective disorders. Extending these findings will be key to increase our knowledge on possible risk and/or protective intermediate mechanisms. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study (n = 459) to investigate the position of attention control and social capital in this previously reported network. Our results provide a conceptual replication of Faelens, Hoorelbeke, Fried, De Raedt, and Koster (2019). In addition, our findings suggest that attentional control does not play a central role in the relationship between Facebook use and well-being. However, (bridging) social capital uniquely connected the variables related to Facebook use with our indicators of vulnerability for affective disorders via social comparison and contingent self-esteem. Possible explanations are discussed.A

Social media use and well-being : a prospective experience-sampling study

Facebook and Instagram are currently the most popular Social Network Sites (SNS) for young adults. A large amount of research examined the relationship between these SNS and well-being, and possible intermediate constructs such as social comparison, self-esteem, and repetitive negative thinking (RNT). However, most of these studies have cross-sectional designs and use self-report indicators of SNS use. Therefore, their conclusions should be interpreted cautiously. Consequently, the goal of the current experience sampling study was to examine the temporal dynamics between objective indicators of SNS use, and self-reports of social comparison, RNT, and daily fluctuations in negative affect. More specifically, we assessed 98 participants 6 times per day during 14 days to examine reciprocal relationships between SNS use, negative affect, emotion regulation, and key psychological constructs. Results indicate that (1) both Facebook and Instagram use predicted reduced well-being, and (2) self-esteem and RNT appear to be important intermediate constructs in these relationships. Future longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to further support and extend the current research findings

Cognitieve controle training als hervalpreventie: zonneschijn op lange termijn? Onderzoek naar de effecten bij voormalig depressieve patiënten /

Master of Science in de psychologie: klinische psychologi