Young adults' developmental task-related goals modify the association between self-focused goals and depressive symptoms

Having self-focused goals is often a risk factor for a higher level of depressive symptoms. The present study investigated whether developmental task-related personal goals could moderate the association between self-focused goals and depressive symptoms in young adulthood. A total of 1,276 Finnish twins aged 21–26 filled out a questionnaire on personal goals. The General Behavior Inventory for depressive symptoms at age 17 and 21–26 was applied. Longitudinal path analyses were carried out. Among those who had a goal related to their own family or life philosophy, self-focused goals were not associated with depressive symptoms, whereas among those who did not express these goals there was a strong association between self-focused goals and higher level of depressive symptoms. Among those who had a goal related to education, the association between self-focused goals and depressive symptoms was weaker compared to those who did not express these goals. These results suggest that goals related to one's own family, life philosophy, and education have the potential to decrease the association between self-focused goals and depressive symptoms.