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The Association Between Contentment and Depressive Symptoms: Results From Three Panel Studies
Shuo Yan1, Nathaniel S Eckland1, Howard Berenbaum1
1Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|February 16, 2026
Summary
Contentment was linked to fewer depressive symptoms across different life stages and time points. This finding suggests that fostering contentment may be a key strategy in understanding and treating depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Depression is a prevalent mental health concern.
- Understanding factors influencing depression is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between contentment and depressive symptoms.
- To examine these associations at both between-person and within-person levels, concurrently and prospectively.
Main Methods:
- Utilized random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM).
- Analyzed data from three diverse samples: Health and Retirement Study (HRS), Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher, and a college student daily diary study.
- Controlled for tranquility and cheer as covariates.
Main Results:
- Contentment showed a significant association with depressive symptoms across all samples at the between-person and concurrent within-person levels.
- Contentment prospectively predicted subsequent depressive symptoms in two of the three samples (HRS and MIDUS).
Conclusions:
- Contentment is a significant correlate and predictor of depressive symptoms.
- Findings have implications for the etiology and treatment of depression, highlighting contentment as a potential therapeutic target.
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