Future outcome expectancy in depression and anxiety : investigating the mediating role of hopelessness and intolerance of uncertainty

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between future outcome expectancy and depression and anxiety, and mediating role of hopelessness and intolerance of uncertainty in a university-based sample of young adults. Participants (N=166) completed two phases of the self-reported questionnaires. At baseline, they completed measures of hopelessness, intolerance of uncertainty, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and rated the likelihood estimation over a list of future events. After two months, they were followed up to complete measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, and to report whether or not the list of events occurred. Results suggested that increased negative and decreased positive outcome expectancy at baseline prospectively predicted higher depressive and anxiety symptoms in the two-month follow-up. Mediation analyses supported the hypothesised mediating role of hopelessness underlying the relationship between future outcome expectancy and depression, and the mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty underlying the link between future outcome expectancy and anxiety. Increased negative bias in future outcome expectancy (anticipating an elevated likelihood of negative outcomes than reality) was also significantly associated with more concurrent depressive symptoms. Clinical implications of the findings and directions for future research were discussed.