A redesigned mood induction procedure: The emotional rollercoaster of life under experimental control

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a new mood induction procedure in which a positively and a negatively loaded images presented sequentially (or vice versa) alter participants’ mood state. A second objective was to investigate whether baseline results can be replicated at 6 months and whether these induced mood changes depend on sex, age, and image quality (colour and recognition). 82 participants underwent a mood induction procedure at baseline and 6 months. After a measurement in which current happiness, sadness and anger was assessed, they were exposed to two subsequent images of opposite emotional loading. After each image, they were asked to report their mood. Multi-level analyses showed significant effects of both the first image and the second image on participants’ mood. Replication at 6 months was mostly confirmed. Interactions with sex and age were demonstrated partially. No significant colour and recognition effects were found. Unexpectedly, significant order effects of emotional loading were found for all three mood items. This redesigned mood induction procedure resulted in congruent effects on subjective mood. The need for replication of these findings, as well as the extension of the paradigm to clinical populations, is encouraged.