Feelings of not Mattering and Depressive Symptoms From a Temporal Perspective: A Comparison of the Cross-Lagged Panel Model and Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model

Abstract

Are feelings of not mattering an antecedent of depressive symptoms, a consequence, or both? Most investigations focus exclusively on feelings of not mattering as an antecedent of depressive symptoms. Our current study examines a vulnerability model, a complication model, and a reciprocal relations model according to a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM). A sample of 197 community adults completed the General Mattering Scale (GMS), the Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS), and a depression measure at three time points (i.e., baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks). GMS and AMS scores were associated robustly with depressive symptoms at each time point. Other results highlighted the need to distinguish levels of anti-mattering and mattering. CLPM analyses supported a reciprocal relations model of anti-mattering (assessed by the AMS) and depressive symptoms and a complication model linking mattering (assessed by the GMS) and depressive symptoms. The RI-CLPM analyses provided tentative support only for a complication model of anti-mattering and depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight the differences between measures of the mattering construct and the need to adopt a temporal perspective that considers key nuances and the interplay among feelings of mattering, feelings of not mattering, and depression.

An Introduction, Review, and Conceptual Analysis of Mattering as an Essential Construct and an Essential Way of Life

“…Two new longitudinal studies in this special issue are unique in that they both included the General Mattering Scale and the Anti-Mattering Scale and they both had multiple waves of assessment. The first study by Etherson et al (2022) had community adult participants complete the General Mattering Scale, the Anti-Mattering Scale, and a depression measure at three timepoints (i.e., baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks). Subtle but important differences were found between mattering and anti-mattering in their temporal associations with depression.…”

The Anti-Mattering Scale Versus the General Mattering Scale in Pathological Narcissism: How an Excessive Need to Matter Informs the Narcissism and Mattering Constructs

“…Higher scores reflect higher levels of anti-mattering. Tests of the measure’s structure in various types of samples have confirmed it consists of one factor (see Etherson et al, 2022; Giangrasso et al, 2022; Krygsman et al, 2022). In addition, the AMS possesses good reliability and validity (Flett et al, 2022).…”

“…Evidence using various methods is converging to indicate that anti-mattering is a salient theme that can be at the root of significant distress (Deas et al, 2022). Other research with the AMS has further illustrated that mattering and anti-mattering are both clearly relevant but not equivalent (see Etherson et al, 2022; Giangrasso et al, 2022; Krygsman et al, 2022). This distinction between the AMS and GMS is potentially important when narcissism is considered, as we illustrate below.…”

Effort–reward imbalance and job burnout: Examining cross-lagged relationships and the moderating role of sensitivity to terrorism.

“…Random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM; Hamaker et al, 2015) was used with the estimated model having a longitudinal format of two waves. RI-CLPM was used because it calculates cross-lagged effects solely based on within-person fluctuations (Etherson et al, 2022). Furthermore, the two-step modeling strategy was adopted, wherein we first estimated the adequacy of our measurement model with latent variables using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) followed by the examination of the structural relationships among the study variables.…”