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Cited by 177Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Let it be: Accepting negative emotional experiences predicts decreased negative affect and depressive symptoms

Open access
Shallcross, Amanda J., Troy, Allison S., Boland, Matthew, Mauss, Iris B.·2010·Behaviour Research and Therapy
DOI 10.1016/j.brat.2010.05.025PMC PMC3045747
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Abstract

The present studies examined whether a tendency to accept negative emotional experiences buffers individuals from experiencing elevated negative affect during negative emotional situations (Study 1) and from developing depressive symptoms in the face of life stress (Study 2). Both studies examined female samples. This research expands on existing acceptance research in four ways. First, it examined whether acceptance has beneficial correlates when it matters most: in emotionally taxing (versus more neutral) contexts. Second, in Study 2 a prospective design was used in which acceptance was measured before stress was encountered and before outcomes were measured. Third, depressive symptoms (rather than general functioning or trauma symptoms) were examined as a particularly relevant outcome in the context of stress. Fourth, to enhance generalizability, a community sample (versus undergraduates or a purely clinical sample) was recruited. Results indicated that acceptance was correlated with decreased negative affect during a negative emotion induction but not an affectively neutral condition (Study 1). In Study 2, acceptance interacted with life stress such that acceptance predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms after higher, but not lower, life stress. These results suggest that accepting negative experiences may protect individuals from experiencing negative affect and from developing depressive symptoms.

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  • Negative affect has been shown to be most behaviorally harmful when it kicks off processes of suppression and avoidance.

    “For example, negative affect has been shown to be most behaviorally harmful when it kicks off processes of suppression and avoidance 91 .”

    From “Third-wave” cognitive and behavioral therapies and the emergence of a process-based approach to intervention in psychiatry (2021) · cites this paper as [91]

    The paper’s opening discussion says avoiding unpleasant feelings might be harmful, and its section on the benefits of acceptance reports less negative affect after an anxiety-provoking film with acceptance than with suppression. This supports a link between avoidance or suppression and worse emotional outcomes, but the cited passages do not establish that negative affect is *most* harmful when it triggers those processes, or that the harm is behavioral. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • A higher level of psychological flexibility protects women from depression symptoms when faced with high-intensity stress.

    “Previous studies have confirmed that a higher level of psychological flexibility protects women from depression symptoms when faced with high-intensity stress [36]”

    From The relationship between postpartum negative life events and postpartum depression: a moderated mediation model of neuroticism and psychological flexibility (2024) · cites this paper as [36]

    The Results report that women higher in acceptance did not show increased depressive symptoms as stress rose, and the concluding comment says they developed fewer symptoms in the face of high life stress. However, the paper studied acceptance of negative emotions, not psychological flexibility broadly, and presents a protective effect as a suggestion rather than a confirmed causal finding. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Emotional acceptance is effective in reducing negative emotions such as sadness and increasing positive affect in short-term experiments.

    “Several studies on emotion regulation [10] have shown that a strategy of emotional acceptance is effective in reducing negative emotions such as sadness [11–14] and increasing positive affect [15] in short-term experiments.”

    From Effects of five-minute internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy and simplified emotion-focused mindfulness on depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial (2017) · cites this paper as [14]

    In Study 1, the Results (‘Acceptance and negative affect’; page unavailable) report lower negative affect during a negative film among participants high in acceptance; sadness was one component of that measure. The authors also state in the Results (‘Summary and discussion’; page unavailable) that the study was cross-sectional, so it does not establish that acceptance caused the reduction. The separate claim about increased positive affect is attached to citation [15], not this source. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • This result conflicts with an earlier finding that acceptance helps people with higher more than lower life stress.

    “This finding is inconsistent with a prior finding that acceptance is more beneficial for individuals experiencing higher (vs. lower) levels of life stress (Shallcross et al., 2010).”

    From The psychological health benefits of accepting negative emotions and thoughts: Laboratory, diary, and longitudinal evidence (2018) · cites this paper as Shallcross et al., 2010

  • Non-judging is often considered a crucial facet of acceptance.

    “It is therefore unsurprising that many conceptualizations of acceptance are centrally focused on the role of evaluations, and non-judging (also called non-evaluation) is often considered a crucial facet of acceptance (Shallcross et al., 2010; Williams and Lynn, 2010).”

    From Aspects of acceptance: building a shared conceptual understanding (2024) · cites this paper as Shallcross et al., 2010

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Hayes SC Jacobson NS Follette VM Dougher MJ 1994 Acceptance and change: Content and context in psychotherapy Reno, NV Context Press
  2. Herrington A Matheny K Curlette W McCarthy C Penick J 2005 Lifestyles, coping resources, and negative life events as predictors of emotional distress in university women Journal of Individual Psychology 61 343 364

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Authors
Shallcross, A. J., Troy, A. S., Boland, M., & Mauss, I. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Denver (US)
  • University of Nevada, Reno (US)
Corresponding author
Shallcross, Amanda J.
ORCID
Venue
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-09
Volume
48
Issue
9
Pages
921-929
ISSN
0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.brat.2010.05.025
PMC
PMC3045747
OpenAlex
W2045869257
Cited by
177
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
FWCI
7.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Denver
  • National Institute on Aging (R21AG031967, AG031967)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
acceptance, negative emotional experiences, negative affect, depressive symptoms, life events, emotion regulation, emotion induction, buffering, women
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Depression, Emotions, Female, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Reference Values, Stress, Psychological, Resilience, Psychological, Young Adult

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