Goal pursuit, motivation and the experience of positive and negative affect in young people : an experience sampling study
Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The study reported in this thesis aimed to test a psychological model of goaldirected \nbehaviour in a sample of young adults, using experience sampling methods. \nThe purpose was to assess the relationship between goal-related appraisals of success \nand importance, and fluctuations in both positive and negative affect as well as levels \nof ruminative thought. The influence of individual differences in transdiagnostic \nfactors relating to motivation and anhedonia, as well as symptoms of depression, \nrumination and schizotypy were also considered. \nAn analogue sample of non-clinical young adults was recruited and took part \nin this six-day intensive, longitudinal study. Subjective reports of momentary affect, \nrumination, and goal appraisals were assessed five times daily for six days. Baseline \nmeasures relating to symptoms of psychopathology, motivation and anhedonia were \nalso administered. \nUsing multilevel modelling, the relationship between goal appraisals and \naffective and ruminative responses could be analysed within the context of the days \nand individuals that they occurred. Results suggested that appraisals of success were \nassociated with higher levels of momentary positive affect and lower levels of \nmomentary negative affect and rumination. While importance was positively \nassociated with momentary rumination, the expected interaction between success and \nimportance was not found. Individual differences in depression symptoms and \nschizotypy were differentially associated with reduced momentary positive affect, \nwhereas individual differences in trait rumination were differentially associated with \nincreased momentary negative affect and rumination. There was some evidence that \nindividual differences in depression symptoms were also associated with reduced \noverall enjoyment and goal success during the experience sampling period. \nGOAL PURSUIT, MOTIVATION AND THE EXPERIENCE OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE \nAFFECT IN YOUNG PEOPLE: AN EXPERIENCE SAMPLING STUDY \niii \nT. Dahm \nThese findings are relevant to our understanding of goal-directed behaviour, \nand how goal appraisals influence positive affect as well as negative affect and \nrumination. The results suggest that targeting appraisals of success and increasing \nactivities that provide experiences of mastery and pleasure may be an important \naspect of clinical interventions.
Author: Theresa Dahm
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2297588511