The role of desired positive affect in depression in daily life

Background: Emotion goals (desired affect) have been theorized to play an essential role in a person's emotional experiences, guiding emotion regulation processes toward experiencing desired states. Hence, understanding whether and which emotion goals are associated with reduced negative states is crucial for individuals struggling to regulate these states, such as persons with depression. Using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), we examined the relationship between momentary desired positive affect and subsequent depressive affect in daily life, as well as future depressive symptoms, among individuals with depressive disorders. Methods: A total of 50 female participants with depression reported their momentary desire for high arousal positive (HAP), low arousal positive states (LAP), and depressive affect three times a day for seven days. In addition, participants reported depressive symptoms at both baseline and four weeks after. Results: Momentary desired LAP moderated the relationship between prior and subsequent depressive affect: the more a person wanted to feel LAP at the prior time point, the weaker the relationship between prior and subsequent depressive affect. Limitations: The relatively short interval between the EMA and the follow-up measurement of depressive symptoms may have influenced the results. Conclusions: Results elucidated the role of desired affect, particularly desired LAP, in depression in daily life.