Boredom: An Emotional Experience Distinct from Apathy, Anhedonia, or Depression

Abstract

Boredom is a universal human experience which has received little empirical attention. Researchers have yet to agree on a unified definition of boredom and many see it as a secondary symptom to other psychological states (e.g., apathy depression). We explored the relationship between boredom and three phenomenologically related states; apathy, anhedonia and depression. Structural equation modeling revealed that although related to each state to varying degrees, boredom is empirically distinct. Establishing boredom as an independent construct provides an important step in bringing the field closer to a universally accepted definition of the experience, which will ultimately facilitate more effective assessment and treatment of boredom.