Attachment Beliefs and Interpersonal Contexts Associated with Dependency and Self-Criticism

Whiffen, Valerie E.; Aubé, Jennifer; Thompson, Janice; Campbell, T. Leanne

doi:10.1521/jscp.2000.19.2.184

Cited by 35 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Subsequent research has isolated a more maladaptive, immature ''neediness'' or ''dependence'' factor from a more mature and adaptive ''connectedness'' or ''relatedness'' factor in existing measures of dependency, such as the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale (Blatt et al, 1995(Blatt et al, , 1996Rude and Burnham, 1995;Whiffen et al, 2000). Although the more adaptive factor (''connectedness'' or ''relatedness'') reflects mature and reciprocal interpersonal concern with a relationship with a particular significant other (Besser and Priel, 2008;Campos et al, 2010Campos et al, , 2011, the maladaptive/vulnerability factor (''neediness'' or ''dependence'') involves excessive preoccupation with the availability of love, nurturance, and support, together with strong fears of abandonment and rejection.…”

Section: Self-criticism Neediness and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Humor Styles Mediate or Moderate the Relationship Between Self-Criticism and Neediness and Depressive Symptoms?

Besser

Luyten²

2011

Journal of Nervous &Amp; Mental Disease

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This study examined whether, in a community sample of Israeli adults (N = 335), benign (i.e., affiliative and self-enhancing) and injurious (i.e., aggressive and self-defeating) humor styles mediated or moderated the relationship between self-criticism and neediness, two traits that confer vulnerability to depression, on the one hand, and levels of depressive symptoms, on the other. There was no evidence of any moderating effect of humor styles on the relationship between self-criticism and neediness and depressive symptoms. However, results indicated that the use of injurious styles of humor mediated the relationship between self-criticism and depressive symptoms as well as the relationship between neediness and depressive symptoms. Moreover, the relationship between neediness and depressive symptoms was also mediated by low levels of benign humor. These findings may have important implications for theories concerning vulnerability to depressive symptoms and intervention strategies.Key Words: Self-criticism, neediness, humor, depression, affect regulation. (J Nerv Ment Dis 2011;199: 757Y764) G rowing evidence indicates that high levels of self-criticism and neediness (i.e., maladaptive dependency) are associated with increased vulnerability to depression (see Blatt and Luyten, 2010;Mongrain and Leather, 2006;Schulte et al., 2008;Zuroff et al., 2004). However, the mechanisms by which these personality dimensions confer vulnerability to depression are still relatively poorly understood. Increasing evidence suggests that both self-criticism and neediness are associated with maladaptive affect-regulation strategies, particularly in the context of close interpersonal relationships, which may partially explain their association with depression [see Blatt and Luyten, 2009, for a review]. Humor, particularly the use of benign versus injurious styles of humor, may play an important but, until now, relatively neglected role in this context. Indeed, studies increasingly point to the importance of humor as an affect-regulation strategy, particularly in interpersonal relationships (e.g., Besser A, Luyten P, Mayes LC Adult attachment and distress: The mediating role of humor styles [submitted for publication, 2011]; Besser and Zeigler-Hill, 2011;Martin, 2007;Miczo et al., 2009;Taber et al., 2007;Zeigler-Hill and Besser, 2011). Congruent with these findings, it has been suggested that humor may play an important role in resiliency in the face of adversity (Fonagy et al., 1994;Luyten et al., 2011;Martin, 2001Martin, , 2007Vaillant, 1977Vaillant, , 2000. In light of this previous work, the present study explored the roles of adaptive and maladaptive humor styles as mediators or moderators of the associations of depressive symptoms with the vulnerability factors of self-criticism and neediness. Self-Criticism, Neediness, and DepressionPersonality development, according to Blatt (1974Blatt ( , 1991Blatt ( , 2004Blatt ( , 2008, involves the integration of a person's development of selfdefinition with the capacity for...

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Section: Self-criticism Neediness and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Humor Styles Mediate or Moderate the Relationship Between Self-Criticism and Neediness and Depressive Symptoms?

Besser

Luyten²

2011

Journal of Nervous &Amp; Mental Disease

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“…Furthermore, high neediness scores have been associated with an increased risk for developing a depressive episode and problematic interpersonal relationships whereas high scores in connectedness have been associated with increased feelings of interpersonal trust and comfort within intimate relationships (Cogswell, Alloy, & Spasojevic, 2006;Whiffen, Aube, Thompson, & Campbell, 2000;Zuroff, Moskowitz, & Cote, 1999).…”

Section: Neediness and Connectedness: Two Factors Within Dependencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, DEQ items with high negative loadings on the neediness dimension include, "Being alone doesn't bother me at all", and "I seldom worry about being criticized for things I have said or done" (Rude & Burnham, 1995, p. 328). Furthermore, research has found that low neediness is associated with low levels of interpersonal anxiety (Whiffen et al, 2000), and a more secure, less anxious interpersonal attachment style in both clinical and non-clinical samples (McBride, Zuroff, Bacchiochi, & Bagby, 2006). Similar to the self-criticism X connectedness finding mentioned above, it is possible that individuals characterized by low neediness and high connectedness responded particularly well to treatment because, due to their secure interpersonal style (i.e., low neediness) and desire to make interpersonal connections (i.e., high connectedness), these individuals had or were able to establish strong interpersonal connections which aided treatment response.…”

Section: Pre-treatment Personality and Treatment Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research has found that individuals low in neediness, compared to those high in neediness, demonstrate more adaptive patterns of behaviour, particularly in the interpersonal domain. For example, Whiffen et al, (2000) reported that women high in neediness were rated as cold and submissive in their marital interactions by both themselves and their Personality, Stressful Life Events, and Depression 51 romantic partner. Similarly, Zuroff et al (1999) found that high neediness predicted low levels of behaviour-based agency suggesting a more submissive, less assertive interpersonal style.…”

Section: Personality Change and Treatment Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

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Personality, stressful life events, and treatment response in major depression.

Bulmash¹,

Harkness²,

Stewart³

et al. 2009

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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Major Depression (MD) currently affects over 17 million individuals in North America (Greenberg et al., 2003). Identifying factors predictive of MD treatment response is important for developing more efficacious treatments and better understanding MD vulnerability. The goal of the present study was to examine the main and interactive effects of personality and stressful life events as predictors of MD treatment response.One hundred and thirty-one clinically depressed participants were randomly assigned to either 16-weeks of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), or pharmacotherapy (PT). Personality in the form of trait self-criticism, neediness, and connectedness was assessed at pre and post-treatment using the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt et al., 1976). Stressful life events experienced during treatment were assessed using the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS; Bifulco et al., 1989). Results revealed that amongst individuals scoring lower in pretreatment self-criticism, higher pre-treatment connectedness predicted superior treatment response. As well, amongst individuals scoring lower in pre-treatment neediness, higher pre-treatment connectedness predicted superior treatment response. In terms of personality change, both a reduction in neediness and a reduction in self-criticism over the course of treatment predicted superior treatment response. A personality × stressful life event interaction was also found such that amongst those experiencing a stressful life event during treatment, higher scores on pre-treatment self-criticism predicted poor treatment response. These results suggest that personality and stressful life events play an important role in the treatment of MD. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.iii Acknowledgements

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“…is associated with relationship dissatisfaction, criticism towards and distrust of the partner, and difficulties with intimacy (Besser and Priel, 2003;Dimitrovsky et al, 2002;Lynch et al, 2001;Morrison et al, 1998;Vettese and Mongrain, 2000;Whiffen et al, 2000;Zuroff and Fitzpatrick, 1995). Dependent individuals in turn are mainly focused on achieving and maintaining relationships and inhibit behaviour that may disrupt these relationships (Zuroff and de Lorimier, 1989;.…”

Section: Self-criticism Dependency and Romantic Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of romantic attachment and self‐criticism and dependency for the relationship satisfaction of community adults

Lowyck

Luyten

Demyttenaere

et al. 2008

Journal of Family Therapy

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This article aims to investigate the role of romantic attachment versus the personality dimensions related to self-definition and relatedness for relationship satisfaction. Self-report instruments measuring romantic attachment, self-criticism and dependency, severity of depression, negative life events and relationship satisfaction were administrated to 266 community adults. As expected, results showed that secure romantic attachment was positively and insecure romantic attachment was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, and this was the case even when controlling for self-criticism and dependency, severity of depression and negative life events. Implications of these findings for couple therapy are discussed.

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Attachment Beliefs and Interpersonal Contexts Associated with Dependency and Self-Criticism

Cited by 35 publications

References 3 publications

Do Humor Styles Mediate or Moderate the Relationship Between Self-Criticism and Neediness and Depressive Symptoms?

Do Humor Styles Mediate or Moderate the Relationship Between Self-Criticism and Neediness and Depressive Symptoms?

Personality, stressful life events, and treatment response in major depression.

The role of romantic attachment and self‐criticism and dependency for the relationship satisfaction of community adults

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