Effectiveness of two mood induction procedures and influence of modulating variables

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is twofold. First of all, it attempted to offer empirical evidence on several relevant issues on mood induction procedures (MIPs) still unsatisfactorily solved. We compared the effectiveness of two MIPs: Velten plus Music and Recall of Biographic Memories plus Music. The differences between the induction of sad and elated mood were analyzed, as well as the temporary test-retest stability of the change achieved after the MIPs. The second aim of this study was the analysis of the role played by several psychological variables (selfconsciousness, depression and anxiety) on mood induction. Forty university students participated in the study (23 women, 17 men; age from 17 to 38). Results showed that both MIPs were effective in the induction of sad and elated mood, and there were no differences between the two MIPs. Sad mood induction, though, was easier to achieve than elated mood induction. Regarding temporal stability, moderately high correlations were obtained between sessions 1 and 2. Finally, the results on the psychological variables influencing mood induction revealed that neither self-consciousness, anxiety nor depression were relevant in the change of the subjects’ mood due to the MIPs. However, the subjects’ appraisal of their initial mood (level of sadness versus elation) turned to be a predictor of the degree of change in mood after the induction.