Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether exposure to positive episodic simulation would be effective in changing affect, regret, and future predictions of college students with a tendency of depression. The participants were selected according to the points they received on the Korean Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), 16 points or above to below 25 points, and were randomly assigned to either the positive episodic simulation training group (PEST, n = 18) or the neutral visualization control group (NC, n = 14). Each group conducted a total of three sessions, and before and after each session, they responded to a questionnaire regarding their present emotional state, past regret, and future prediction. The PEST group simulated ‘what will happen to me in the future’ in relation to the positive words presented on the screen, and the NC group was instructed to recall only the image, excluding elements for emotion and future prediction. The results of the study are summarized as follows: First, the PEST group showed decreased levels of depression and less negative affect compared to the NC group, and this effect was maintained for one week. Second, the PEST group showed that the episodic future thinking training had an effect on the importance and vividness of the future occurrence of positive events, and this effect was maintained even one week after the training ended. Finally, in the case of past regret, there was no significant difference in regret between groups immediately after the sessions. However, after one week follow up, the training effect was shown in a later assessment. The findings suggest that the practice of positive episodic simulation is effective in predicting the future and assessing the level of depression and negative affect in those with depression tendency.