"Study: Depressed Individuals Avoid Positive Emotions"

Two studies conducted in Israel found that individuals with major depressive disorder tend to distract themselves from positive emotions, effectively reducing the duration of their pleasant emotional experiences. Depressed individuals are more likely to choose distraction over positive rumination in response to pleasant memories, leading to decreases in pleasant affect and increases in unpleasant affect. This behavior is also evident in their daily lives, where they are more likely to use distraction to avoid pleasant emotions. The study sheds light on important psychological mechanisms found in depression, highlighting the significance of emotion regulation strategies in managing the condition.