Premium
Young Adults' Developmental Task‐Related Goals Modify the Association between Self‐Focused Goals and Depressive Symptoms
Author(s) -
SalmelaAro Katariina,
Read Sanna,
Korhonen Tellervo,
Vuoksimaa Eero,
Rose Richard J.,
Kaprio Jaakko
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01064.x
Subject(s) - association (psychology) , depressive symptoms , psychology , clinical psychology , task (project management) , developmental psychology , psychiatry , cognition , psychotherapist , management , economics
Having self‐focused goals is often a risk factor for a higher level of depressive symptoms. The present study investigated whether developmental task‐related personal goals could moderate the association between self‐focused goals and depressive symptoms in young adulthood. A total of 1,276 Finnish twins aged 21–26 filled out a questionnaire on personal goals. The General Behavior Inventory for depressive symptoms at age 17 and 21–26 was applied. Longitudinal path analyses were carried out. Among those who had a goal related to their own family or life philosophy, self‐focused goals were not associated with depressive symptoms, whereas among those who did not express these goals there was a strong association between self‐focused goals and higher level of depressive symptoms. Among those who had a goal related to education, the association between self‐focused goals and depressive symptoms was weaker compared to those who did not express these goals. These results suggest that goals related to one's own family, life philosophy, and education have the potential to decrease the association between self‐focused goals and depressive symptoms.