Fear of happiness as a Mediator Variable between Ruminating Negative Thoughts and Depressive Symptoms among Postgraduate Students

The research aimed at identifying the correlation between Fear of happiness, Ruminating Negative Thoughts, and Depressive Symptoms among postgraduate students, and their Fear of happiness level . It also revealed the significance of gender differences in Fear of happiness and its dimensions (Irrational beliefs about happiness, negative emotions associated with happiness, and happiness-avoidance behaviors). In addition, it aimed at identifying the mediating role of Fear of happiness in the relationship between Ruminating Negative Thoughts and Depressive Symptoms. The basic research sample consisted of (261) male and female postgraduate students with the educational, vocational and special diploma at the Faculty of Education, and the special diploma at the Faculty of Specific Education - Minia University, including (119 males, 142 females), age range (24-30) years old, with an age average (27.218) years, and a standard deviation (1.737). The study tools included The Fear of happiness scale (prepared by the researcher), The Ruminating Thoughts scale (Prepared by: Brinker and Dozois, 2009, Arabization and codification of the researcher), and The Beck depression scale (BDI-II) (Prepared by Beck, translated and codified by Gharib, 2015). The study resulted in: there is a positive and significant correlation between Fear of happiness, Ruminating Negative Thoughts, and Depressive Symptoms. Results also showed high level Fear of happiness for research sample. Also, there are statistically significant differences between males and females in Fear of happiness and its dimensions favoring females. Fear of happiness was a partial mediator variable between Ruminating Negative Thoughts and Depressive Symptoms.