The Longitudinal Pathway from Chronic Stress to Anhedonia in Young People: Examining Mediation by Negative Cognitive Style
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Anhedonia is a persistent symptom of mental health problems and often emerges early in life. Chronic stress has been shown to predict anhedonia over time, and identifying modifiable processes in this pathway can inform early intervention efforts. Negative cognitive style has been preliminarily suggested to contribute to anhedonia, though their relationship has seldom been tested directly. We examined whether negative cognitive style (global attributions, stable attributions, negative consequentiality, and self-worth implications) mediated the pathway from chronic stress (interpersonal and non-interpersonal) to anhedonia. Methods: We analysed longitudinal data from the Youth Emotion Project of 627 participants, aged 15–17 years at baseline, across 10 annual waves. We used multilevel structural equation modelling to estimate lagged direct and indirect effects at within- and between-person levels. Analyses were repeated adjusting cognitive style for baseline neuroticism. Results: We observed some evidence of between-person mediation. Those reporting greater interpersonal stress compared to others reported a more negative cognitive style, though effects attenuated after adjusting for neuroticism. Several cognitive style components (except global attributions and neuroticism-adjusted self-worth implications) predicted higher anhedonia at the between-person level, whereas stable attributions showed an inverse association. Those reporting greater non-interpersonal stress compared to others reported fewer stable attributions and higher neuroticism-adjusted global attributions. On the within-person level, only higher non-interpersonal stress and stable attributions predicted increases in anhedonia, with no evidence of mediation. Conclusions: Certain aspects of negative cognitive style may confer risk for developing anhedonia, but specificity beyond neuroticism is unclear. Findings underscore the importance of leveraging longitudinal data to disaggregate within- and between-person effects. Future research should incorporate diverse samples, consider measurement windows, and use ecological momentary assessment.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Institution: University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7207556751