UNCUED AND CUED EMOTIONS AND ASSOCIATED DISTRESS IN A COLLEGE SAMPLE

The purposes of this study were to examine; (a) the prevalence of cued and uncued panic attacks, anger outbursts, episodes of sadness, and surges of excitement; (b) the degree of worry or distress over the recurrence of each type of emotional experience; and (c) the relations among these emotional experiences. Results based on survey responses of 317 undergraduates showed a high prevalence of each basic emotion, particularly depressed mood and surges of excitement. Distress was strongest for depressed mood and outbursts of anger, and least for surges of excitement. Panic attacks and anger outbursts tended to occur independently of each other, whereas surges of excitement and sad mood were the most likely to co-occur. The results are discussed in the context of an emotion-distress conceptualization.