Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)
Volume 36, April 2025
Authors
Nicola V. Catts, Baljinder K. Sahdra, Joseph Ciarrochi, Madeleine I. Fraser, Cristóbal Hernández, Steven C. Hayes, Andrew T. Gloster
Key Findings
- Idionomic statistical methods were used to examine Ecological Momentary Assessment data.
- Valued action was positively linked to hedonic well-being at the group level.
- Idiographic statistics revealed a subset of people, the ‘Stoics’, for whom valued action was negatively or not related to mood.
- A ‘Non-Stoic’ group emerged who engaged in significantly more valued actions characterised by enjoyment and relaxation.
- Idionomic methods suggest divergent paths to well-being based on individual differences in mood-action dynamics.
Abstract
To examine the relationship between valued action and mood, this study analyzed Ecological Momentary Assessment data from a transdiagnostic in- and out-patient sample (EMA; N = 134; 62 female, 72 male; 62 inpatient, 72 outpatient; Mage = 36.6 years, SD = 11.6). Individual time series models were constructed to capture each participant's unique relationship between valued action and mood. The models were then meta-analyzed, revealing substantial variability, with two subgroups; Stoics (n = 64) and Non-Stoics (n = 70). The Stoics subgroup showed null or negative links between valued action and mood, replicating past findings from a nonclinical sample. The Non-Stoic group engaged significantly more in valued actions characterized by enjoyment and relaxation. Subsequent multilevel VAR networks were created to examine differences between Stoics and Non-Stoics. Within-person analyses indicated that, unlike Non-Stoics, Stoics showed no significant association between valued action and mood in contemporaneous networks. Temporal networks revealed that, for Non-Stoics, mood positively influenced future engagement in valued action. These findings challenge assumptions of a universally positive relationship between valued action and mood, suggesting divergent paths to well-being based on individual differences in mood-action dynamics.