Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of responses to the positive affect between fear of positive emotions and depression. For this purpose, 388 undergraduate students completed questionnaires assessing fear of positive emotions, responses to positive affect, and depression. Data were collected through an Internet survey system. The fear of positive emotions had a significant effect on depression. Meanwhile, positive rumination and dampening had a significant mediating effect on the relationship between the fear of positive emotions and depression. In addition, the size of the mediating effect of dampening was significantly larger than that of positive rumination. This study is meaningful in that it verified the mediating effect of responses to the positive affect on the relationship between fear of positive emotions and depression. Furthermore, the findings suggest the importance of using interventions in attitude and emotion regulation for positive emotions in the treatment of depressive disorder.