Goal Pursuit, Motivation And The Experience Of Positive And Negative Affect In Young People: An Experience Sampling Study

The study reported in this thesis aimed to test a psychological model of goaldirected behaviour in a sample of young adults, using experience sampling methods. The purpose was to assess the relationship between goal-related appraisals of success and importance, and fluctuations in both positive and negative affect as well as levels of ruminative thought. The influence of individual differences in transdiagnostic factors relating to motivation and anhedonia, as well as symptoms of depression, rumination and schizotypy were also considered. An analogue sample of non-clinical young adults was recruited and took part in this six-day intensive, longitudinal study. Subjective reports of momentary affect, rumination, and goal appraisals were assessed five times daily for six days. Baseline measures relating to symptoms of psychopathology, motivation and anhedonia were also administered. Using multilevel modelling, the relationship between goal appraisals and affective and ruminative responses could be analysed within the context of the days and individuals that they occurred. Results suggested that appraisals of success were associated with higher levels of momentary positive affect and lower levels of momentary negative affect and rumination. While importance was positively associated with momentary rumination, the expected interaction between success and importance was not found. Individual differences in depression symptoms and schizotypy were differentially associated with reduced momentary positive affect, whereas individual differences in trait rumination were differentially associated with increased momentary negative affect and rumination. There was some evidence that individual differences in depression symptoms were also associated with reduced overall enjoyment and goal success during the experience sampling period. GOAL PURSUIT, MOTIVATION AND THE EXPERIENCE OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE AFFECT IN YOUNG PEOPLE: AN EXPERIENCE SAMPLING STUDY iii T. Dahm These findings are relevant to our understanding of goal-directed behaviour, and how goal appraisals influence positive affect as well as negative affect and rumination. The results suggest that targeting appraisals of success and increasing activities that provide experiences of mastery and pleasure may be an important aspect of clinical interventions.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of East Anglia

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Dahm, Theresa

Language dc:language

en