Feeling safe and content: a specific affect regulation system? Relationship to depression, anxiety, stress, and self-criticism

Gilbert, P., McEwan, Kirsten, Mitra, R., Franks, L., Richter, A. and Rockliff, H. 2008. Feeling safe and content: a specific affect regulation system? Relationship to depression, anxiety, stress, and self-criticism. The Journal of Positive Psychology 3 (3) , pp. 182-191. 10.1080/17439760801999461

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Abstract

Recent work in the neuroscience of positive affect has suggested that there may be two different types of positive affect. One is linked to a drive/seeking system (and may be dopaminergic mediated) and the other is a soothing-contentment system (and may be opiate/oxytocin mediated). This study sought to develop a self-report scale that could tap these positive affects in regard to characteristic feelings individuals may have. Results from 203 students suggested three (rather than two) underlying factors: activated positive affect, relaxed positive affect, and safe/content positive affect. It was the safe/content positive affect that had the highest negative correlations with depression, anxiety and stress, self-criticism, and insecure attachment. Hence, greater clarity on the different types and functions of positive affect may demystify the relationship between positive emotions and well-being.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Attachment; Depression; Positive affect; Self-criticism
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	1743-9760
Date of Acceptance:	12 December 2007
Last Modified:	19 Apr 2017 15:13
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/94027

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