Cognitive motivational systems and life satisfaction in serious and persistent mental illness

Levels of life satisfaction are commonly used to measure attainment of recovery in serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI). There is some controversy about what constitutes life satisfaction and its measurement. This study explored the influence of cognitive motivational systems upon estimations of life satisfaction using structural equation modeling (SEM).

One hundred and ninety participants diagnosed with SPMI from Hawai’i’s public mental health system completed instruments measuring cognitive motivational systems (e.g., behavioral activation and inhibition), psychological distress, and life satisfaction (e.g., quality of life and subjective well-being).

Exploratory models indicated that higher behavioral inhibition or psychological distress predicts lower levels of life satisfaction. However, higher levels of behavioral activation predict higher levels of life satisfaction. There was no support for psychological distress as a mediator between cognitive motivational systems and life satisfaction.

Overall, cognitive motivational systems accounted for 15% of the variance in life satisfaction while psychological distress accounted for 29%. This suggests the importance of considering cognitive schemas and motivation beyond symptomatology when examining life satisfaction.