Fear of happiness through the prism of the dual continua model of mental health.

OBJECTIVE

Two studies were conducted to investigate fear of happiness through the lens of the dual continua model of mental health.

METHODS

In Study 1, we examined whether depression (indicator of mental illness) and happiness (indicator of mental health) predicted fear of happiness through a Structural Equation Model. In Study 2, we ran a quasi-experimental design to examine differences in affect (positive and negative), happiness and depression when engaging in either fearless or fearful beliefs of happiness.

RESULTS

Fear of happiness was positively and negatively predicted by depression and happiness, respectively. Fearless individuals reported higher positive affect and happiness, and lower negative affect and depression, than fearful individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Fearing happiness might act as a maladaptive self-verifying motive to enhance one's perspective of the world. Given the likelihood of modifying maladaptive cognitive patterns, we highlight different psychological interventions that can address the negative impact of fearful beliefs of happiness.