Torn about which goal to chase? It could be associated with psychological distress a study suggested. A survey of more than 200 young adults by the University of Exeter and Edith Cowan University (ECU) investigated two forms of motivational conflict. These were inter-goal conflict (when pursuing one goal makes it difficult to pursue another) and ambivalence (conflicting feelings about particular goals). The results showed that each of these forms of goal conflict was independently associated with anxious and depressive symptoms but did not predict worsening of symptoms over one month. People with poorer mental health are more likely to report
