Self-discrepancy theory as a transdiagnostic framework: A meta-analysis of self-discrepancy and psychopathology.

Abstract

Self-discrepancy theory (SDT) is a model of the relations between the self and affect which has been applied to the study of different types of psychopathology including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Although the theory itself is compatible with a transdiagnostic perspective on psychopathology, to date no systematic review of the literature has examined that possibility. We conducted a meta-analysis that synthesized the literature on self-discrepancy and psychopathology across a heterogeneous range of 70 studies. Results showed a small-to-medium association between self-discrepancy and psychopathology that was highly robust and similar in magnitude across domains. Furthermore, self-discrepancy was related to higher levels of a range of negative emotions and lower levels of a range of positive emotions. Meta-regression models showed that the effects were greater for actual:ideal discrepancy compared with actual:ought discrepancy for both depression and anxiety, which was contrary to the tenets of SDT which suggests specific associations between actual:ideal discrepancy and depression and actual:ought discrepancy and anxiety. Measurement type (i.e., idiographic vs. nomothetic) was a significant predictor of the effects for depression and anxiety, such that nomothetic measures evidenced greater associations compared with idiographic measures. Our findings could suggest that self-discrepancy represents a contributory factor related to a number of psychiatric disorders. However, the tenet of SDT suggesting unique associations between actual:ideal and actual:ought discrepancy and anxiety and depression respectively was not supported. Implications are discussed for future research on self-discrepancy and psychopathology including the study of mechanistic frameworks.

The influence mechanism of environmental anxiety on pro‐environmental behaviour: The role of self‐discrepancy

“…Self‐discrepancy is an incongruity between how one currently perceives oneself and how one desire to view oneself (Barnett & Womack, 2015). These incongruities appear in social status (Harmon‐Jones, Schmeichel, & Harmon‐Jones, 2009), intelligence (Kim & Gal, 2014; Kim & Rucker, 2012), rights (Rucker & Galinsky, 2008, 2009), social group belonging (Loughran Dommer, Swaminathan, & Ahluwalia, 2013; Mason et al., 2019) and so forth. Mandel et al.…”

“…Compensatory consumer behaviour indicates any purchase, use or consumption of products or services motivated by a desire to offset or reduce a self‐discrepancy (Rucker & Galinsky, 2008). Whereas, when the self‐discrepancy decreases, consumers will practice corresponding consumption behaviours according to their own needs and expectations, as well as the requirements of their social status (Mason et al., 2019). In this study, we suggested that because of the influence of self‐discrepancy, the same PEB by consumers may arise from different sources of motivation.…”

Fear of self in eating disorders

“…The perceived distance of the actual self from the ideal and/or ought self can have either positive (if the distance is small) or negative (if there is a large discrepancy) effects on affective states (Higgins, 1987). Indeed, research has demonstrated a link between actual/ought and actual/ideal discrepancies and different forms of psychopathology (see Mason et al, 2019 for a review).…”

Predictors of treatment response durability in psychotherapy for binge‐eating disorder: Examining the roles of self‐discrepancy, self‐directed style, and emotion dysregulation

“…Additionally, given the importance of cognitive ED symptoms (Fairburn et al, 2003) and frequent co‐occurrence of depression and anxiety with BED (Hudson et al, 2007), we examined global ED psychopathology, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms at follow‐up as secondary treatment outcomes. While ICAT‐BED and CBTgsh were associated with similar improvements in each of these secondary treatment outcomes in the recent trial comparing the two treatments (Peterson et al, 2020), evidence indicates that global ED psychopathology, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms are each associated with self‐discrepancy (Mason et al, 2019), self‐directed style (Mason et al, 2016), and emotion dysregulation (Aldao, Nolen‐Hoeksema, & Schweizer, 2010; Hofmann, Sawyer, Fang, & Asnaani, 2012). Thus, regardless of intervention type, changes during treatment in these hypothesized binge‐eating maintenance mechanisms from the ICAT model may also impact global ED psychopathology and symptoms of depression and anxiety.…”