Depression and Reasons for Living

Abstract

In this study, relations between depression and cognition of reasons for living were examined from the point of view of cognitive behavior therapy. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and Reason for living Inventory for young adults (RLI) were administered to 261 Japanese university students (male 146, female 115). The results showed relations between two variables. Three factors were extracted as a condition to make a base of reasons for living; self-acceptance, self-importance and problem solution. The result supported the hypothesis that cognition of reasons and meaning of living reduce and repress depressive tendency. The results also indicated that promoting self-acceptance, self-importance and confidence problem solution plays a basic role in counseling and psychotherapy.