Dimensions of inattention: Cognitive, behavioral, and affective consequences

Abstract

Inattention to one's on-going task leads to well-documented cognitive, behavioral, and physiological consequences. At the same time, the reliable association between mind-wandering and negative mood has suggested that there are affective consequences to task inattention as well. We examined this potential relationship between inattention and mood in the following study. Six hundred and fifty-five participants completed self-report questionnaires related to inattentive thinking (i.e., attentional lapses, daydreaming, mindfulness, rumination, reflection, worry, postevent processing, inattentiveness, and counterfactual thinking), a questionnaire about depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire about anxiety symptoms. First, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify potential underlying constructs of types of inattentive thinking. Using ordinary least squares extraction and Oblimin rotation, a three-factor model demonstrated suitable fit, broadly representing mind-wandering/inattentive consequences, repetitive negative thinking, and reflective/introspective thinking. Second, after eliminating measures that did not strongly load on any factor, structural equation modeling was conducted and found that the relationship between mind-wandering and depression was partially explained by repetitive negative thinking, whereas the relationship between mind-wandering and anxiety was fully explained by repetitive negative thinking. The present findings suggest that understanding how inattentive thoughts are interrelated not only influences mood and affect but also reveals important considerations of intentionality, executive functioning, and qualitative styles of these thoughts.

Keywords: anxiety; daydreaming; depression; inattention; mind-wandering; mood; perseverative cognition; repetitive negative thoughts.

Figure 1

SEM model representing repetitive negative thoughts as a mediator in the relationship between cognitive-behavioral consequences of inattention and depressive/anxiety symptoms. N = 612. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. Partial mediation of Repetitive Negative Thoughts (RNTs) was supported for consequences of inattention effect on depressive symptoms, and full mediation of RNTs was supported for consequences of inattention effect on anxiety symptoms. Standardized ßs are reported. ARCES, Attention-Related Cognitive Errors Scale; MAAS, Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale; CSS, Current Symptoms Scale; CES-D, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; STAI, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory; RRQ-Rum, Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire Rumination Subscale; PSWQ, Penn State Worry Questionnaire; RRS-Brood, Rumination Responses Scale Brooding Subscale; PEPQ-R, Post-Event Processing Questionnaire-Revised.