Interpersonal Mechanisms in the Relationships between Dependency/Self-Criticism and Depressive Symptoms in Taiwanese Undergraduates: A Prospective Study

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationships among depressogenic personality styles (dependency and self-criticism), interpersonal behaviors, and depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 84 college students in Taiwan (89% female; 11% male), ranging in age from 18 to 24 (M = 19.39; SD = 1.31). At both baseline and 6-month follow-up, participants completed the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire

Self-Criticism, Neediness, and Connectedness as Predictors of Interpersonal Behavioral Variability

“…in an attempt to mitigate potential losses in rank, self-critical individuals are likely to submit to dominant others rather than engage in competition which, if lost, could result in an even greater loss of social status. this finding is consistent with low mean levels of agency in self-critics (Liu et al, 2012;Zuroff et al, 1999). However, the dominant or submissive behavior of self-critics may also fluctuate in an attempt to mitigate potential losses in status relative to others.…”

“…Given the association of both the personality factors measured here and behavioral variability with negative interpersonal outcomes (e.g., côté et al, 2012; Kopala-sibley, Russell et al, 2007), future research would benefit from examining whether behavior variability accounts for the relationship between self-criticism and connectedness and interpersonal outcomes. indeed, one recent study found that behavioral variability partially accounts for the associations between self-criticism, dependency, and depressive symptoms (Liu et al, 2012). concLusion this study found that higher levels of self-criticism were associated with more flux in dominance, submissiveness, and agreeableness, as well as more spin, and connectedness was associated with lower levels of spin.…”

“…for instance, highly self-critical individuals tend to be critical and hostile toward their romantic partners (mongrain, vettese, shuster, & Kendal, 1998;Zuroff & duncan, 1999). outside of romantic relationships, they show less agreeable behavior (Zuroff, 1994) and, although they are more concerned about achievement , they are typically less dominant and more submissive (Liu, chen, tsai, wu, & Hong, 2012;santor & Zuroff, 1997;Zuroff et al, 1999). dependent individuals, by contrast, are highly concerned about maintaining interpersonal relationships and about feeling loved and cared for by significant others.…”

“…the neediness and connectedness subscales of the dependency items of the deQ may therefore meaningfully differentiate maladaptive and adaptive interpersonal behaviors. some evidence suggests that the associations between self-criticism, connectedness, and interpersonal outcomes are due to the average interpersonal behaviors of individuals who show high levels seLf-CRitiCism, ConneCtedness, and behavioRaL vaRiabiLity 773 of these factors (Liu et al, 2012;Zuroff et al, 1999). However, researchers may inappropriately assume that those associations indicate a constant, rather than variable, but on average elevated, pattern of interpersonal behavior.…”

The role of self-criticism in common mental health difficulties in students: A systematic review of prospective studies

“…The shortest time-frame was just 7 weeks (Sturman et al, 2015) and the longest time-frame was 10 years (Brewin & Firth-Cozens, 1997). Looking at the retention of participants over time, only five studies retained at least 80% of participants by T2 (Gautreau et al, 2015;Liu et al, 2012;McGrath et al, 2012, Sherry et al, 2013& Sherry et al, 2014 and only one study retained at least 80% of participants by T3 and T4 (McGrath et al 2012). Four studies did not report their retention/attrition rates (Priel & Shahar, 2000;Shahar, 2006;Spasojevic & Alloy, 2001;Yao et al, 2009).…”