Perseverance of effort is related to lower depressive symptoms via authentic pride and perceived power

Perseverance toward long-term goals has been tied to diminished depression. Few studies have considered mechanisms that might underlie the effects of perseverance. We tested the hypothesis that perseverance promotes greater resilience to depressive symptoms by enhancing positive self-conscious emotions (e.g., authentic pride) and positive self-valuation (e.g., sense of power). Participants (N = 420) completed self-report measures of perseverance, authentic pride, perceived power, and current depressive symptoms. Perseverance of effort was significantly related to lower depressive symptoms. Authentic pride and sense of power were both significant statistical mediators of the relationship between perseverance and depressive symptoms. Implications for future clinical research are discussed.