Activation and Avoidance Mediate the Relationship Between Depression and Life Satisfaction: Insights from Behavioral Activation Therapy

Abstract

Behavioral activation therapy has been increasingly used in depression intervention in recent years. It aims to increase the activation level and decrease the avoidance level. In this way, the individual's life satisfaction is expected to increase while trying to reduce depression. However, the relationship between depression and life satisfaction in behavioral activation therapy-based interventions has not been sufficiently revealed. Furthermore, the effects of activation and avoidance, which are the most basic concepts of behavioral activation therapy, and their underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Therefore, this study focused on this gap and aimed to explore the mediating roles of activation and avoidance variables in the relationship between depression and life satisfaction. Participants (N = 440) from a non-clinical sample group completed various self-report scales on depression, behavioral activation, and life satisfaction. Our results showed that depression and life satisfaction negatively predicted each other, and that activation and avoidance variables mediated this relationship in parallel. Accordingly, increasing activation and decreasing avoidance in young people with depressive symptoms may be an effective way to improve life satisfaction and reduce depression. Effective prevention efforts that reduce depression can increase the life satisfaction levels of young adults. In summary, behavioral activation and avoidance can be used to prevent depression and increase life satisfaction. The current study provides more information about the applicability of activation and avoidance, two important elements of behavioral activation therapy, in depression intervention.