The role of activity level and cognition in depressed mood in a university sample

Abstract

This study examined the role of activity level and cognition on mood by contrasting a monitor only (N = 22), increase pleasant events (N = 20), and increase pleasant events plus focusing on event pleasantness (N = 23) groups over a 2-week period. The results show that subjects who were instructed to increase their number of pleasant events did so and obtained more pleasure as a result. The group which increased pleasant events and focused on event pleasantness also showed a significant decrease in level of depression. The results are interpreted to support the role of monitoring and pleasant events on mood, but the potential necessity for cognitive change to create "antidepressant" effects.