Self‐esteem in depression: A controlled repertory grid investigation

Abstract

Repertory grids were used to investigate self-esteem and social perception in three groups: depressed in-patients, non-depressed psychiatric in-patients and a general hospital control group. Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Depressives had significantly lower self-esteem and more negative social perception and negative feelings associated with 'actual self', as predicted by Beck's cognitive theory. Repertory grids are potentially useful tools for the development of cognitive theories of depression, and may also have a role in clinical practice using cognitive techniques.

Construction of Self and Others in Unipolar Depressive Disorders: A Study Using Repertory Grid Technique

“…This involves use of correlations and/or distance scores between ratings of the ''self'' and ratings of the other persons included on the RepGrid (self-other). Previous studies also concur in finding significantly greater self-isolating construing (or lower perceived commonality) in persons with depression in comparison to normal and psychiatric controls (Ashworth et al, 1982;Axford & Jerrom, 1986;Sheehan, 1981;Space & Cromwell, 1980;Space et al, 1983). Again, level of perceived self-isolation decreased with improvement of depressive symptoms across the course of treatment (Sheehan, 1985).…”

“…Again, this can be done with correlations or with distance scores. One study failed to find significant differences between those with depression and normal or psychiatric controls (Axford & Jerrom, 1986). RepGrid profiles of construction of self and others Feixas and Cornejo (1996) describe RepGrid profile types potentially relevant to depression.…”

“…The negativity or positivity with which the person perceives the self can be assessed with the RepGrid by comparing ratings of the ''self'' with the ''ideal self,'' using Pearson correlations or distance scores (self-ideal). Previous RepGrid studies have found that persons with depressive disorders tend to have more negative self constructions than both normal and psychiatric samples (Ashworth, Blackburn, & McPherson, 1982;Axford & Jerrom, 1986;Hewstone, Hooper, & Miller, 1981;Sheehan, Fig. 1 Example of a RepGrid created by a specific participant in the Study 1981; Space & Cromwell, 1980;.…”

Construcción del sí mismo y categorización de los significados personales de acuerdo con las fortalezas del carácter: estudio comparativo en pacientes con trastornos depresivos [Self construction and categorization of personal meanings...]

“…Además, cabría añadir que la diferencia encontrada en el número de elementos elicitados es menor en los sujetos depresivos, lo cual es indicativo de una menor red de relaciones interpersonales. Estos datos son coincidentes con investigaciones en las que se constata que lo que caracteriza a las personas con depresión es una autoestima significativamente menor y una percepción más negativa de sí mismos y de los demás (Axford y Jerrom, 1986;Hewstone, Hooper y Miller, 1981). En cuanto a la correlación «yo ideal» -«otros», los datos indican que los «otros» se acercan al «yo ideal», proporcionando un índice de buena adecuación percibida en los otros.…”

“…El grupo de Feixas (Feixas y Cornejo, 1996;Feixas et al, 2008) establece una serie de perfiles tentativos en la construcción del sí mismo de acuerdo a estos tres índices, considerando el Perfil de Aislamiento en el caso de una correlación negativa entre «yo actual» -«yo ideal» y «yo actual» -«otros» y, una correlación positiva entre «yo ideal» -«otros». Este perfil, es característico de personas con depresión tal y como predice la teoría cognitiva de Beck (Beck, Rush, shaw y Emery, 1983) y que concuerda con los datos arrojados en otros estudios dentro del marco de la PCP (Axford y Jerrom, 1986;Feixas et al, 2008;Hewstone, Hooper y Miller, 1981;Oliver y McGee, 1982;space y Cromwell, 1980). …”