Enjoyment as a preventive of depressive affect

Abstract

Previous work suggests two mechanisms whereby finding enjoyment in life decreases the likelihood of depressive affect: (a) enjoyment counteracts depressive affect and (b) failure to find enjoyment is itself a stimulus for depressive affect. The present study, based on interviews with 2168 adults in two communities, yields findings which are consistent with the proposition that satisfaction with major life areas is a factor in finding enjoyment in life, thereby a factor in avoiding depressive affect and thereby a factor in avoiding psycho-physiologic problems. Thus the present study provides a measure of support for the proposition that finding enjoyment in life reduces the likelihood of depressive affect and for the corollary of this proposition, that social, psychological, and other factors in the enjoyment of life are thereby also factors in depressive affect and its consequences.