From anticipation to action: A RCT on mental imagery exercises in daily life as a motivational amplifier for individuals with depressive symptoms

• Published in: Applied psychology : health and well-being 2024-11, Vol.16 (4), p.1988-2005
• Main Authors: Bär, Andreas, Heininga, Vera E., Lemmens, Lotte H. J. M., Renner, Fritz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adult; Anticipation, Psychological; Behavior; depression; Depression - psychology; Depression - therapy; Ecological Momentary Assessment; ecological momentary assessment (EMA); Expectations; experience sampling method (ESM); Female; Humans; Imagery; Imagery, Psychotherapy - methods; Intervention; Male; Mental depression; Mental imagery; Middle Aged; Motivation; Physical activity; Relaxation; Relaxation Therapy - methods; Reward; reward anticipation; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1758-0846; 1758-0854; 1758-0854
• DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12572

Encouraging engagement in rewarding or pleasant activities is one of the most important treatment goals for depression. Mental imagery exercises have been shown to increase the motivation for planned behaviour in the lab but it is unclear whether this is also the case in daily life. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of mental imagery exercises on motivation and behaviour in daily life. Participants with depressive symptoms (N = 59) were randomly assigned to a group receiving mental imagery (MI) exercises or a control group receiving relaxation (RE) exercises via study phones. We employed an experience sampling design with 10 assessments per day for 10 days (three days baseline, four days with two exercises per day and three days post‐intervention). Data was analysed using t‐tests and multilevel linear regression analyses. As predicted, MI exercises enhanced motivation and reward anticipation during the intervention phase compared to RE. However, MI did not enhance active behaviour or strengthen the temporal association from reward anticipation (t‐1) to active behaviour (t). Mental imagery exercises can act as a motivational amplifier but its effects on behaviour and real‐life reward processes remain to be elucidated. Practitioner points Mental imagery exercises for planned activities are feasible in daily life. Mental imagery exercises can increase motivation to perform an activity. It remains unclear whether and how mental imagery exercises can influence behaviour in daily life.