Intrinsic motivation to study and amotivation for most frequently performed activities: Association with increased non‐specific psychological distress

Aim Non‐specific psychological distress is closely associated with the risk of depression. Accordingly, assessing motivation on this distress can provide important information for preventing depression. In this study, we investigated the relationship between motivational state and non‐specific psychological distress in participants with a 1‐year follow‐up. Methods Two hundred and sixty‐eight participants (117 men, 15.3–57.7 years, mean age = 23.7 years, SD = 7.8) were publicly recruited and administered a self‐reported questionnaire. The 135 of all participants completed a 1‐year follow‐up. We translated and adapted the Perceived Locus of Causality Questionnaire (PLOCQ) into Japanese to be applicable to motivation for “study” (PLCQ‐J‐study) and for “most frequently performed activities” (PLCQ‐J‐time) and used them in the baseline survey. The Kessler 6 (K6), a 6‐item scale assessing non‐specific psychological distress, was administered in both surveys. Results In a hierarchical multiple regression analysis, K6 scores at 1‐year follow‐up were predicted by intrinsic motivation in the PLCQ‐J‐study ( B [SE] = 0.259 [0.103], t = 2.51, p < 0.05), amotivation in the PLCQ‐J‐time ( B [SE] = 0.287 [0.086], t = 3.33, p < 0.01), and K6 score at baseline ( B [SE] = 0.436 [0.090], t = 4.83, p < 0.001). Conclusion We identified the relationship between motivation in multiple domains as well as in non‐specific psychological distress. Understanding multiple perspectives on motivation could reveal a new understanding of non‐specific psychological distress.