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<p>Higgins' regulatory focus theory (1997) postulates two cognitive/motivational systems
for pursuing desired end states: the promotion and prevention systems. The theory
predicts that failure in each system is discriminantly associated with dysphoric and
anxious affect respectively; and that significant failure in these systems creates
vulnerability to depression and anxiety. This study tested these hypotheses among
adolescents who took part in the longitudinal Wisconsin Study of Families and Work.
We found partial support for the theory's predictions. Specifically, the original
adult Selves Questionnaire (SQ), which was administered at age 13, did not demonstrate
the expected discriminant associations with dysphoric and anxious affect and symptoms.
However, the Selves Questionnaire - Adolescent Version, which was administered at
age 15, yielded partial support for the theory. Ideal self-discrepancy was discriminantly
associated with depressive affect but ought self-discrepancy was not discriminantly
associated with anxious affect. However, feared self-discrepancy was discriminantly
associated with anxious affect, which adds to the literature suggesting that feared
self-discrepancy might be a better construct to use in measuring prevention failure
among adolescents. The association between self-discrepancy and affect was found
cross-sectionally but not longitudinally. The study also tested recently formulated
predictions of regulatory focus theory which state that significant failure in one
regulatory system is likely to negatively impact the other system (Klenk, Strauman,
& Higgins, 2011). No support for this prediction was found. Implications of the
findings, and aspects of the study that may have reduced our ability to test the hypotheses
of interest, are discussed.</p>
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