IngentaConnect Brief Report

Authors: Dickson J.¹; MacLeod A.¹

Source: Cognition and Emotion, Volume 18, Number 3, April 2004 , pp. 423-430(8)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Numerous studies have outlined similarities and differences between anxiety and depression, focusing mainly on affect and cognition. The present study aimed to extend this line of research to include motivation. There are theoretical grounds (e.g., Gray, 1982) for expecting anxiety to be related primarily to motivational systems underlying avoidance whereas depression would be expected to include elements of both high avoidance and low approach motivation. The study & examined the relationships between approach goals and avoidance goals and anxiety and depression. A school sample of adolescents (N = 144) completed an open-ended task that required participants to write down as many personal approach and avoidance goals that came to mind within a short time period. Participants were also asked to describe the most important consequence associated with either achieving or not achieving each of their goals, which were then classified as either approach or avoidance consequences. They also completed a self-report questionnaire asking about approach and avoidance achievement goals. The findings were consistent across measures. In line with predictions, anxiety was associated with measures of avoidance goals but not approach goals. Depression was related to a deficit in approach goals but, against prediction, showed no relationship to measures of avoidance goals. Anxiety and depression can be clearly distinguished in terms of their patterns of goal motivation.

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$45.29 plus tax Refund Policy