| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 891057 | Personality and Individual Differences | 2013 | 4 Pages |
•We investigate the moderating role of positive beliefs about worry.•We conduct a two-wave longitudinal survey.•Hierarchical regression analysis showed a prospective relationship between the stressful events and worry.•Positive beliefs are associated with worry as a moderator of stressful events.
Some theorists suggest that worry is elevated by positive beliefs when stressful events occur. Although several cross-sectional studies have revealed an association between positive beliefs and worry, few longitudinal studies have been conducted on this topic. Moreover, the effect of positive beliefs as a moderator on worry when stressful events occur has not been investigated. Against this background, the present study conducted a two-wave longitudinal survey to examine the moderating role of positive beliefs. One hundred and ninety-four college students voluntarily completed questionnaires. Hierarchical regression analysis showed a prospective relationship between the experience of stressful events and the subjective report of worry. Moreover, this relationship was moderated by an interaction with positive beliefs; stressful events were a stronger predictor of the extent of worry for individuals with a high level of positive beliefs than for those with a low level of positive beliefs. The moderating role of positive beliefs suggests that the level of positive beliefs amplifies the threat of worry caused by stressful events.
