Theorists (Cacioppo, Petty, Feinstein, & Jarvis, 1996) have proposed that persons with diminished motivation to actively and systematically seek out, consider, and think about corrective information (i.e., low need for cognition; NFC) are vulnerable to encounter elevated anxiety and depression across long periods. Simultaneously, based on the scar theory (Allemand, Grünenfelder-Steiger, & Flückiger, 2018; Schmidt, Lerew, & Joiner, 2000), increased depression and anxiety could relate to lower trait NFC across time, by compromising analytical thinking, goal-directed pursuits, and reality testing skills. However, most prior studies used cross-sectional designs which preclude causal inferences. In addition, longitudinal studies on this topic thus far applied ordinary least squares regression or latent growth curve models, which permits between-person but not within-person inferences. Building on prior work, we used two advanced longitudinal structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques to test the within-person and between-person relations between NFC and depression and anxiety symptoms (DAS) measured every year, across 10 years. Random intercept-cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM; Hamaker, Kuiper, & Grasman, 2015) was used to test level-to-future level cross-lagged relations, whereas bivariate dual latent change score (BLCS; Grimm & Ram, 2018) modeling was conducted to examine change-to-future change associations. Further, both BLCS and RI-CLPM adjusted for baseline scores, prior lagged effects, regression to the mean, and between-person variances, as well as minimized measurement error. Participants comprised community-dwelling adults (n = 6,750) in the Longitudinal Internet Survey Study (LISS) (Scherpenzeel, Das, Ester, & Kaczmirek, 2010). RI-CLPM showed that within persons, lower prior level of NFC was significantly related to higher level of NFC at the future adjacent time-point (d = -0.852), and vice versa (d = -0.498) over 10 years. Similarly, the BLCS model demonstrated that within persons, greater 1-year reduction in NFC was notably associated with larger 1-year increase in DAS at the next time-lag across 10 years (d = -0.631), and conversely (d = -0.519). Moreover, within the RI-CLPM, a significant between-person cross-sectional result emerged, such that higher DAS was associated with lower trait NFC (d = -1.738). The results suggested that targeting NFC may treat or prevent the emergence of depression and anxiety disorders. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques (e.g., cognitive reframing, behavioral activation) can be augmented to enhance NFC by helping patients engage in self-talk in curious ways as well as to connect them with work, hobbies, and activities that instill joy and excitement. Other theoretical and practical implications for the clinical and educational psychological sciences were discussed.
Curiosity might not help after all: Predicted trajectories for need for cognition and anxiety and depression symptoms based on findings by Zainal and Newman (2022)
