An Analysis of the Lived Experience of Motivation among Female Students with Depressive Symptoms: (Phenomenological Study)

Motivation is a psychological construct that affects human performance, and its absence causes stagnation and lethargy. Motivation affects mood. Lack of motivation will cause one to fall into the abyss of nothingness. Therefore, motivation has a colorful role in each individual's mental health and well-being. Motivation is effective in the personal, professional, and social life of each human being. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experience of female students in Yazd with depressive symptoms to uncover and characterize the phenomena of motivation. This research was qualitative by the phenomenological method. The study population consisted of eleven female students in Yazd, and a method of purposive sampling was employed until data saturation, and no more data were available. Semi-structured qualitative research was employed in the interview. Using Colaizzi's technique, all interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and evaluated.

A total of 20 main themes and 50 sub-themes were evaluated and retrieved in this study. "Competence," " Individual Development," "Dynamics," "Vitality," "Self-confidence," "Self-control," "Adaptation," "Empowerment," "Welfare," "Motivation," "Tendency," "Encouragement," "Failure," "Teleology," "Courage," "Independence," "Autonomy," "Support," "Self-efficacy," and "Decision-making" were among the topics discussed. The findings provide a clear picture of the study of Lived experience, a crucial psychological construct of motivation in individuals with depressive symptoms, and these results influence brain function and behavior.