A comparison of classmate and self-evaluation of dysphoric and nondysphoric Chinese students

Abstract

Forty dysphoric and thirty-nine nondysphoric Chinese college students participated in this study. Subjects completed forms on performance standard setting, selfevaluation, and self-perceived efficacy for their academic performance and social skills. Two classmates of each subject were asked to appraise the subject's level of academic performance, social skills, and academic efficacy. The results showed that although there was no difference between the standards the subjects set for themselves in the two groups, dysphorics showed lower self-evaluation, and selfperceived efficacy than nondysphorics. In comparison with their classmates' appraisals, dysphorics rated themselves lower both on their academic performance and social skills, whereas their efficacy judgements coincided with their classmates' appraisals. The findings suggest that depressed people are sadder but not wiser when self-evaluation and self-efficacy are taken into consideration.

Depressive symptoms and bias in perceived social competence among young adults

“…Participants with higher depressive symptoms perceived themselves more negatively than their peers perceived them to be, consistent with Beck's (1967) cognitive theory that depression is characterized by systematic negative distortions in self-perceptions. This finding replicates numerous other studies documenting a link between depressive symptoms and cognitive errors in which the self is underestimated; dysphorics have demonstrated negative bias in varying types of self-appraisals, including evaluations of their task performance (e.g., Beyer, 2002;Fu et al, 2005) and competence in various life domains (e.g., academic, athletic; Cole, Martin, Peeke, Seroczynski, & Hoffman, 1998;Cole, Peeke, Dolezal, Murray, & Canzoniero, 1999;Qian et al, 2002).…”

“…Together with a wealth of other studies documenting a negative cognitive bias in depressed and dysphoric individuals (e.g., Cole et al, 1998;Cole et al, 1999;Fu et al, 2005;Qian et al, 2002), these findings bolster the empirical foundation for cognitive therapy for depression (Beck et al, 1979), which directly targets unrealistic, negative thoughts and attempts to replace them with more realistic, positive thoughts and evaluations. In fact, the association between positively biased self-perceptions and very low depressive symptoms suggests that it may be clinically indicated to promote positive illusions, or slightly overoptimistic and overly positive self-views, in clients to promote mental health (Taylor & Brown, 1988).…”

“…The negative distortion of self-perceptions in depression may be particularly salient in the social domain. Dysphoric individuals have been shown to underestimate their social skills and social acceptance whereas nondysphorics' social self-evaluations were relatively accurate (Cole et al, 1998;Dobson, 1989;Qian, Wang, & Chen, 2002).…”

Goals and Depressive Symptoms: Cross-lagged Effects of Cognitive versus Emotional Goal Appraisals

“…This absence of a relationship between depressive symptoms and self-efficacy 2 years later is also inconsistent with prior research showing a reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and depression (Holahan & Moos, 1991;Qian, Wang, & Chen, 2002;Stewart et al, 2004). Low-self-efficacy beliefs and depression have been suggested to interact in a downward spiral: negative self-evaluations reinforce negative mood, which in turn further erodes self-confidence (Kavanagh & Bower, 1985).…”

“…Prior research showing an impact of depression on self-efficacy beliefs has focused on groups with severe depression versus groups with mild or practically no depressive symptoms (e.g., Doerfler & Aron, 1995;Qian et al, 2002), or has examined general self-efficacy beliefs (e.g., Maciejewski et al, 2000;Stewart et al, 2004) rather than self-efficacy in relation to more concrete personal goals, work-related or otherwise. Although Kavanagh and Bower (1985) have suggested that negative mood influences efficacy beliefs related to various life domains, self-efficacy beliefs were again not linked to a specific goal in their study.…”