Contents and Characteristics of Mental Imagery and their Association with Emotional Intensity in Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The contents and characteristics of mental imagery (MI) have been investigated with respect to a few mental disorders, but not yet in healthy samples. In adults, it was found that characteristics like the vividness and perspective of MI might be associated with emotions and emotional distress, a matter which needs to be examined in youths. A sample of 80 adolescents (14–20 years; 75.3% female) completed a web-based quasi-experimental design about the contents, and characteristics (frequency, vividness, perspective, controllability) of spontaneous positive and negative MI and emotional distress and emotions, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory and the Social Phobia Inventory. Adolescents described mental images primarily about social themes and those participants experiencing images about social conflicts reported higher levels of emotional distress. Participants reported perceiving images in a combination of field- and observer perspective also stated a higher score of anxiety. A higher frequency, vividness and less control over negative images were significantly linked to a higher intensity of emotional distress and anxiety. A higher frequency, vividness and a higher level of control over positive images were significantly linked to a higher intensity of joy. Small sample size and high social status of participants limits generalizability. Findings indicate that encouraging young people to create vivid positive images and to use a training to increase control over MI might be useful to increase mental health. The results do not permit causal conclusions to be drawn, but raise questions about previous studies comparing each imagery perspective individually.