Tendency Toward Depression, Coping Skills, and the Cognition of Achievement Goals

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between a tendency toward depression, some conditions for the forming of coping skills, and the cognition of achievement was examined. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Depression Coping Questionnaire (DCQ) were administered to 268 university students (Study Ⅰ), and the BDI and the Achievement Goals Questionnaire (AGQ) were administered to 342 university students (Study Ⅱ). The results of Study Ⅰindicate that people develop an attitude of thinking about problems optimistically as a basic coping skill for depression. The results of Study Ⅱ supported the hypothesis of a relationship between depression and the cognition of achievement goals. This fact suggests that a positive bias and a perspective of cognition of time play a role in relieving depression.