Depressive Symptoms and Academic Performance in College: Do Personal Goals Play a Role?

Authors

  • Marie-Laurence Pare Université du Québec à Montreal
  • Diane Marcotte Université du Québec à Montréal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v56i2.68756

Abstract

This study investigates the association between depressive symptoms and academic performance at the college level in Québec by examining personal goals as mediating variables. The sample consisted of 249 female and 148 male students at a Québec college. The Beck Depression Inventory (2nd ed.; Beck et al., 1996), an adaptation of the Personal Project Analysis (Little & Gee, 2007), and the R score (a standardized score used by Québec colleges) were used as measures. Regression analyses fail to support the existence of a direct link between more depressive symptoms and a lower R score. That said, analyses show an indirect association between both variables that is explained by a more negative appraisal of academic and career goals. Supports designed to help college students—who are in a period of identity exploration (Arnett, 2015)—develop a more positive appraisal of academic and career goals may protect such students from depression while fostering their academic success.

Author Biographies

Marie-Laurence Pare, Université du Québec à Montreal

Marie-Laurence Paré completed her Ph.D. in psychology at the Université du Québec à Montréal under the supervision of Diane Marcotte. She is a clinical psychologist and works in the public health care system in Québec.

Diane Marcotte, Université du Québec à Montréal

Diane Marcotte holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Ottawa and heads the Research Laboratory on School-Based Mental Health at the Université du Québec à Montréal. For over 20 years, she has worked as a psychotherapist and provided professional training to psychologists. Marcotte also created the Pare-Chocs depression prevention program for teens; her research focuses on the development of anxiety and the emergence of depression amid school transitions, from elementary to high school and then on to higher education.

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Published

2022-08-26

How to Cite

Pare, M.-L., & Marcotte, D. (2022). Depressive Symptoms and Academic Performance in College: Do Personal Goals Play a Role?. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 56(2), 188–209. https://doi.org/10.47634/cjcp.v56i2.68756

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Section

Articles/ Articles