The Impact of Motivation to Experience Happiness on Depressive Symptoms

Research Article
Open access

The Impact of Motivation to Experience Happiness on Depressive Symptoms

Yuntian Deng 1*
  • 1 University of Pittsburgh    
  • *corresponding author yud63@pitt.edu
Published on 26 October 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/16/20231184
LNEP Vol.16
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-057-8
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-058-5

Abstract

The growing mental health concerns worldwide have highlighted the need to study depression as it heavily impacts overall well-being and life satisfaction. Depression research investigates genetic, environmental, and psychological factors for effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Meanwhile, motivation plays a crucial role in individual and organizational success and well-being, exploring intrinsic and extrinsic factors, cognitive and emotional processes, and social and environmental influences to optimize outcomes. This review paper examined the complex relationship between motivation and depression, focusing on the direct and indirect relationship between attitudes toward happiness and depression, relevant factors in the relationship, and the underlying neural mechanisms. The review discussed how different factors could contribute to the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms through multiple pathways and the underlying neural mechanisms that may be involved, particularly asymmetries in alpha oscillations. All in all, the findings highlighted the complex relationship between motivation and depression and proposed potential intervention targets to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms in susceptible individuals. One of the major limitations of available research is that some studies reviewed in this paper rely on self-report measures, which may be influenced by social desirability bias and other biases that could affect the validity of the results. Future research should explore using various methods to have a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between motivation and depression. Understanding the relationship between motivation and depression can lead to improved interventions, customized treatments, and preventive programs for children and adolescents.

Keywords:

motivation, depression, attitudes towards happiness, self-esteem, alpha oscillations

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References

[1]. Hagen, E.H. (2011). Evolutionary Theories of Depression: A Critical Review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(12), 716–726.

[2]. Sekhar, Patwardhan, M., and Singh, R.K. (2013). A literature review on motivation. Global Business Perspectives, 1(4), 471–487.

[3]. Millgram, Y., Joormann, J., Huppert, J.D., Lampert, A., and Tamir, M. (2019). Motivations to Experience Happiness or Sadness in Depression: Temporal Stability and Implications for Coping With Stress. Clinical psychological science, 7(1), 143-161.

[4]. Ford, B.Q., Shallcross, A.J., Mauss, I.B., Floerke, V.A., and Gruber, J. (2014). Desperately Seeking Happiness: Valuing Happiness is Associated With Symptoms and Diagnosis of Depression. Journal of social and clinical psychology, 33(10), 890-905.

[5]. Arens, E.A., and Stangier, U. (2020). Sad as a Matter of Evidence: The Desire for Self-Verification Motivates the Pursuit of Sadness in Clinical Depression. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 238-238.

[6]. Meng, X., and Yang, D. (2022). Work motivation associated with depression: The role of job burnout and mental resilience. Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.).

[7]. Masselink, M., van Roekel, G.H., and Oldehinkel, A.J. (2018). Self-esteem in early adolescence as predictor of depressive symptoms in late adolescence and early adulthood: The mediating role of motivational and social factors. Journal of youth and adolescence, 47(5).

[8]. McGuirk, L., Kuppens, P., Kingston, R., and Bastian, B. (2018). Does a Culture of Happiness Increase Rumination Over Failure? Emotion (Washington, D.C.), 18(5), 755-764.

[9]. Grahek, I., Shenhav, A., Musslick, S., Krebs, R.M., and Koster, E.H.W. (2019). Motivation and cognitive control in depression. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 102, 371-381.

[10]. Messerotti Benvenuti, S., Buodo, G., Mennella, R., Dal Bò, E., and Palomba, D. (2019). Appetitive and aversive motivation in depression: The temporal dynamics of task-elicited asymmetries in alpha oscillations. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 17129-17111.

Cite this article

Deng,Y. (2023). The Impact of Motivation to Experience Happiness on Depressive Symptoms. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,16,297-304.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Educational Innovation and Philosophical Inquiries

ISBN：978-1-83558-057-8(Print) / 978-1-83558-058-5(Online)
Editor：Javier Cifuentes-Faura, Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://www.iceipi.org/
Conference date: 7 August 2023
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.16
ISSN：2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. Hagen, E.H. (2011). Evolutionary Theories of Depression: A Critical Review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(12), 716–726.

[2]. Sekhar, Patwardhan, M., and Singh, R.K. (2013). A literature review on motivation. Global Business Perspectives, 1(4), 471–487.

[3]. Millgram, Y., Joormann, J., Huppert, J.D., Lampert, A., and Tamir, M. (2019). Motivations to Experience Happiness or Sadness in Depression: Temporal Stability and Implications for Coping With Stress. Clinical psychological science, 7(1), 143-161.

[4]. Ford, B.Q., Shallcross, A.J., Mauss, I.B., Floerke, V.A., and Gruber, J. (2014). Desperately Seeking Happiness: Valuing Happiness is Associated With Symptoms and Diagnosis of Depression. Journal of social and clinical psychology, 33(10), 890-905.

[5]. Arens, E.A., and Stangier, U. (2020). Sad as a Matter of Evidence: The Desire for Self-Verification Motivates the Pursuit of Sadness in Clinical Depression. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 238-238.

[6]. Meng, X., and Yang, D. (2022). Work motivation associated with depression: The role of job burnout and mental resilience. Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.).

[7]. Masselink, M., van Roekel, G.H., and Oldehinkel, A.J. (2018). Self-esteem in early adolescence as predictor of depressive symptoms in late adolescence and early adulthood: The mediating role of motivational and social factors. Journal of youth and adolescence, 47(5).

[8]. McGuirk, L., Kuppens, P., Kingston, R., and Bastian, B. (2018). Does a Culture of Happiness Increase Rumination Over Failure? Emotion (Washington, D.C.), 18(5), 755-764.

[9]. Grahek, I., Shenhav, A., Musslick, S., Krebs, R.M., and Koster, E.H.W. (2019). Motivation and cognitive control in depression. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 102, 371-381.

[10]. Messerotti Benvenuti, S., Buodo, G., Mennella, R., Dal Bò, E., and Palomba, D. (2019). Appetitive and aversive motivation in depression: The temporal dynamics of task-elicited asymmetries in alpha oscillations. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 17129-17111.

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