Objectives Decentering involves observing inner thoughts and emotions from a disidentified perspective. By not identifying with one’s inner experiences, reactivity to stressors is thought to be reduced, theoretically contributing to mood stability over time. Yet this process has not been directly examined in the context of everyday stressors. This study examined decentering following daily stressors using ecological momentary assessments (EMA). It was predicted that decentering would be associated with lower affective reactivity to stressors, greater mood stability, and improved mood. Method Undergraduate participants (n = 262) were prompted through an app to answer questions twice daily over a period of 14 days. They rated the intensity of a recent stressor, their ability to decenter from that stressor, and their negative and positive affect. Results Mixed-effects location-scale (MELS) modeling showed that decentering predicted lower variability in negative affect (<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$|\widehat{\tau }|$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mrow> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mover accent="true"> <mi>τ</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> <mrow> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>= 0.257–0.273; p < 0.001–0.036), but not positive affect (p = 0.251–0.635). Decentering also predicted lower negative and higher positive affect at within- and between-person levels (slopes = −0.122–0.392; p < 0.001–0.047). Multilevel models indicated that momentary decentering attenuated the relationship between stressor intensity and positive and negative affect (<InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$|\widehat{\gamma }|$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mrow> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> <mover accent="true"> <mi>γ</mi> <mo stretchy="false">^</mo> </mover> <mrow> <mo stretchy="false">|</mo> </mrow> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>= 0.029–0.034; p = < 0.001–0.002). Conclusions Decentering may improve affective well-being by increasing positive and reducing negative affect, reducing the impact of stressors on affect fluctuations, and improving mood stability. This suggests the benefits of decentering may be dynamically and contextually evoked in ways that can guide interventions to support stress resilience and mood stability. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.

Less Reactivity, More Stability: Affective Benefits of Decentering from Stress in Ecological Momentary Assessment

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发表日期：

2025年12月17日

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Callista A. Forchuk,
Myriam Mongrain,
Behnam Mirbozorgi,
Dominic Gargala

摘要

Objectives

Decentering involves observing inner thoughts and emotions from a disidentified perspective. By not identifying with one’s inner experiences, reactivity to stressors is thought to be reduced, theoretically contributing to mood stability over time. Yet this process has not been directly examined in the context of everyday stressors. This study examined decentering following daily stressors using ecological momentary assessments (EMA). It was predicted that decentering would be associated with lower affective reactivity to stressors, greater mood stability, and improved mood.

Method

Undergraduate participants (n = 262) were prompted through an app to answer questions twice daily over a period of 14 days. They rated the intensity of a recent stressor, their ability to decenter from that stressor, and their negative and positive affect.

Results

Mixed-effects location-scale (MELS) modeling showed that decentering predicted lower variability in negative affect ( $|\widehat{\tau }|$ $| \hat{τ} |$ = 0.257–0.273; p < 0.001–0.036), but not positive affect (p = 0.251–0.635). Decentering also predicted lower negative and higher positive affect at within- and between-person levels (slopes = −0.122–0.392; p < 0.001–0.047). Multilevel models indicated that momentary decentering attenuated the relationship between stressor intensity and positive and negative affect ( $|\widehat{\gamma }|$ $| \hat{γ} |$ = 0.029–0.034; p = < 0.001–0.002).

Conclusions

Decentering may improve affective well-being by increasing positive and reducing negative affect, reducing the impact of stressors on affect fluctuations, and improving mood stability. This suggests the benefits of decentering may be dynamically and contextually evoked in ways that can guide interventions to support stress resilience and mood stability.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.