Positive Thoughts or Cognitive Balance as a Moderator of the Negative Life Events–Dysphoria Relationship: A Reexamination

This study reexamined Lightsey's (1994a) evidence that positive cognitions moderate the negative life event–dysphoria relation. In his research Lightsey failed to fully consider the relevance of the states of mind (SOM) ratio as an alternative moderator variable, and conducted an imprecise analysis of the predictiveness of the SOM model. The present study compared Lightsey's original analysis and an analysis based on the SOM model. The results replicated Lightsey's finding of a Positive Thoughts × Stress interaction but also supported a SOM × Stress interaction. Although the two models were equal in accounting for predicted variance, the present findings, plus Lightsey's (1994b) results from a second study, suggest that negative thoughts and the balance of positive and negative thoughts are important to consider. Limitations plus evidence that positive monologue, in contrast to positive dialogue, showed a greater stress-dampening effect (contrary to SOM model predictions) are discussed.