Beyond Mean Affect: Dynamic Measures of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

Participants (N=34) completed a 2-week EMA study measuring negative affect, with baseline and post-study assessments of depression (BDI-II) and anxiety (STAI). Mean affect showed the strongest overall correlations with total symptom scores, but dynamic measures were strongly correlated with specific symptoms. Elastic net regression retained both predictors, demonstrating incremental validity.