Understanding the roles of cognitive control and stress in depression: A short-term longitudinal approach

Background: Depression is a prevalent, debilitating disorder marked by low mood and cognitive biases. Within the Dual Mechanisms of Control (DMC) framework, proactive control—entailing the anticipatory maintenance of goal-relevant information—has been implicated in depressive symptoms. Although prior research has emphasized hot cognition, the role of proactive control in cold cognition and its stress interaction remains underexplored.Methods: A three-wave longitudinal study was conducted with 195 participants recruited via an online crowdsourcing platform. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Japanese CESD-R, and perceived stress was assessed with the Japanese Perceived Stress Scale. Cognitive control was evaluated using the AX Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT), yielding the Proactive Behavior Index (PBI) from error rates and reaction times. Data were analyzed using cross-lagged panel models (CLPM) and mixed-effects linear models (MLM).Results: Although the CLPM showed poor fit, MLM analyses revealed robust associations. Stress significantly predicted higher depressive symptoms. Under high stress (+1 SD), proactive control (ER-based PBI) was linked to lower depressive symptoms, whereas under low stress, cognitive control did not significantly affect outcomes. A significant negative interaction between stress and proactive control indicates that its buffering effect depends on elevated stress levels.Discussion: These findings suggest that proactive control acts as a protective factor in high-stress contexts by mobilizing higher-order cognitive strategies, while in low-stress environments, vigilance may foster maladaptive over-monitoring and rumination. The results underscore the context-dependent role of cognitive control in depression and support further research to develop targeted interventions that enhance adaptive control and stress management.