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How Self-Generated Thought Shapes Mood—The Relation between Mind-Wandering and Mood Depends on the Socio-Temporal Content of Thoughts

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  • Florence J M Ruby
  • Jonathan Smallwood
  • Haakon Engen
  • Tania Singer

Abstract

Recent work has highlighted that the generation of thoughts unrelated to the current environment may be both a cause and a consequence of unhappiness. The current study used lag analysis to examine whether the relationship between self-generated thought and negative affect depends on the content of the thoughts themselves. We found that the emotional content could strongly predict subsequent mood (e.g. negative thoughts were associated with subsequent negative mood). However, this direct relationship was modulated by the socio-temporal content of the thoughts: thoughts that were past- and other-related were associated with subsequent negative mood, even if current thought content was positive. By contrast, future- and self-related thoughts preceded improvements of mood, even when current thought content was negative. These results highlight the important link between self-generated thought and mood and suggest that the socio-temporal content plays an important role in determining whether an individual's future affective state will be happy or sad.

Suggested Citation

  • Florence J M Ruby & Jonathan Smallwood & Haakon Engen & Tania Singer, 2013. "How Self-Generated Thought Shapes Mood—The Relation between Mind-Wandering and Mood Depends on the Socio-Temporal Content of Thoughts," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-7, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0077554
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077554
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    Cited by:

    1. Lisa M Jonkman & C Rob Markus & Michael S Franklin & Jens H van Dalfsen, 2017. "Mind wandering during attention performance: Effects of ADHD-inattention symptomatology, negative mood, ruminative response style and working memory capacity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Charlotte Murphy & Giulia Poerio & Mladen Sormaz & Hao-Ting Wang & Deniz Vatansever & Micah Allen & Daniel S Margulies & Elizabeth Jefferies & Jonathan Smallwood, 2019. "Hello, is that me you are looking for? A re-examination of the role of the DMN in social and self relevant aspects of off-task thought," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Yoshinori Sugiura & Tomoko Sugiura, 2020. "Relation Between Daydreaming and Well-Being: Moderating Effects of Otaku Contents and Mindfulness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1199-1223, April.
    4. Liila Taruffi, 2021. "Mind-Wandering during Personal Music Listening in Everyday Life: Music-Evoked Emotions Predict Thought Valence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-22, November.

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