Table 1.

Representative Items and Descriptive Statistics for Measures of Reactivity

Negative Generalization, α= .78, M = 2.99, SD = .95

When even one thing goes wrong I begin to wonder if I can do well at anything at all.

A single failure can change me from feeling OK to seeing only the bad in myself.

I hardly ever let unhappiness over one bad time influence my feelings abut other parts of my life. [R]

Urgency, α= .88, M = 2.78, SD = 0.88

It is hard for me to resist acting on my feelings.

When I am upset I often act without thinking.

I often make matters worse because I act without thinking when I am upset.

Lack of Perseverance, α= .87, M = 1.98, SD = 0.69

I am a productive person who always gets the job done. [R]

I tend to give up easily.

I concentrate easily. [R]

Positive Urgency, α= .81, M = 2.29, SD = 0.81

When I am really excited, I tend not to think of the consequences of my actions.

When I am very happy, I feel like it is OK to give in to cravings or overindulge.

I tend to act without thinking when I am really excited.

[Lack of] Self-Control, α= .83, M = 2.63, SD = 0.70

I am able to work effectively toward long-term goals. [R]

I wish I had more self-discipline.

Sometimes I can’t stop myself from doing something, even if I know it is wrong.

Laziness, α= .80, M = 2.71, SD = 0.58

Miss appointments or classes

Give up on a problem

Watch TV instead of taking care of responsibilities

Sadness paralysis, α= .77, M = 2.30, SD = 0.96

When I feel sad, it paralyzes me.

I respond to feeling sad by just stopping moving

Inability to Overcome Lethargy, α= .87, M = 2.44, SD = 0.89

It’s hard to get myself moving, even when I know what I want to do

When I feel tired, it’s very hard for me to overcome it and do things

If I feel unmotivated, I just do nothing at all

Emotions color worldview, α= .77, M = 3.60, SD = 0.94

When I have emotional experiences, they strongly influence how I look at life

My feelings greatly affect how I see the world

I am easily overwhelmed by feelings I have

Distractibility, α= .90, M = 3.08, SD = 0.95

I am easily distracted by stray thoughts

My mind wanders when I’m working on something that’s tedious or difficult

It can be hard for me to carry out my intentions because I get sidetracked by my thoughts

Reflexive reaction to feelings, α= .86, M = 2.89, SD = 0.83

When I have an emotional reaction to something, I often act without thinking

When I feel a desire, I act on it immediately

I react impulsively to my feelings

When I feel filled with enthusiasm about something, I charge into motion