> It means that some people who don't have goals, but do have depression, may remedy it by getting goals. But not everyone.
It really doesn't show this at all, you are misreading the study because the author of the article misrepresents it. Very few correlation studies turn into causation studies. Even when we have entire subfields dedicated to it. See amyloid beta.
Other possibilities "goals are protective against anxiety and depression but not changeable" "other factors increase goal driven behavior and protect against anxiety and depression" "goal driven behavior is protective but not curative of anxiety and depression" "goal driven behavior increases likelihood that individual gets treated for anxiety or depression"
Any of which would mean that increasing goal driven behavior would not help with anxiety or depression.
It really doesn't show this at all, you are misreading the study because the author of the article misrepresents it. Very few correlation studies turn into causation studies. Even when we have entire subfields dedicated to it. See amyloid beta.
Other possibilities "goals are protective against anxiety and depression but not changeable" "other factors increase goal driven behavior and protect against anxiety and depression" "goal driven behavior is protective but not curative of anxiety and depression" "goal driven behavior increases likelihood that individual gets treated for anxiety or depression"
Any of which would mean that increasing goal driven behavior would not help with anxiety or depression.