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Counterfactual thoughts and regret intensity as correlates of depressive symptoms among polytechnic students in Nigeria

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Abstract

The view that depressive symptoms stem from mental simulations and reactions over outcome of life events has dominated therapeutic discuss for decades. Research lines provide evidences that mental simulations over past events contribute to these symptoms. The present study examined two forms of mental simulations-counterfactual thoughts and regret intensity - as correlates of depressive symptoms of polytechnic students (M = 27.3 years SD = 4.1; N = 364) who completed the Counterfactual Thinking for Negative Events Scale (CTNES), Regret Element Scale (RES) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESDS). Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) analysis result show that upward counterfactuals positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = .12, p < .05), downward counterfactuals negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = −.18, p < .001), and regret intensity positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = .11, p < 01). Implications of the findings for understanding upward/downward counterfactuals-regret-depressive symptoms link, and futures research trend were highlighted.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of General Studies, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, Nigeria

    Larry O. Awo

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji

  3. Department of Educational Foundations and Counselling, Imo state University, Owerri, Nigeria

    Catherine N. Ekwe

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  1. Larry O. Awo
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  2. JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji
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  3. Catherine N. Ekwe
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Contributions

Conceptualization: (Larry O. Awo and Catherine N. Ekwe); Methodology: Larry O. Awo, JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji); Formal analysis and investigation: (JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji and Larry O. Awo., d Catherine N. Ekwe); Writing- original draft preparation: (Larry O. Awo); Writing – review and editing: (JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji, and Catherine N. Ekwe).

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Correspondence to Larry O. Awo.

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Awo, L.O., Chukwuorji, J.C. & Ekwe, C.N. Counterfactual thoughts and regret intensity as correlates of depressive symptoms among polytechnic students in Nigeria. Curr Psychol 42, 4254–4263 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01756-x

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