Deprivation, contentment, and depression

We conducted a pre-registered study examining the relationship between three pleasurable emotions (i.e. contentment, tranquility, and cheerfulness) and deprivation. Undergraduate students (N = 243, aged 18–22) completed a semi-structured interview regarding childhood emotional neglect from parents/guardians, peer social deprivation, and childhood material deprivation. They also completed questionnaires measuring current emotional and material deprivation, stress, pleasurable emotions, depression, and worry. Contentment was more strongly associated with deprivation than were tranquility and cheerfulness. Contentment was also significantly negatively correlated with depression, and the link between deprivation and depression was partially mediated by diminished contentment. The patterns of associations between deprivation and pleasurable emotions differed from the patterns of associations between perceived stress and pleasurable emotions. Overall, these findings support the unique relationship between various pleasurable emotions and different kinds of stress/adversity, and underscore the need for further work that explores the mechanisms linking stress/adversity, pleasurable emotions, and undesirable mental health outcomes.