Self-verification model of major depression in marriage

摘要：本研究从横断面和纵向两个角度对重度抑郁症的自我验证理论进行了研究。这一理论认为，抑郁的人积极地寻求并更喜欢从别人那里得到证实他们消极自我观点的反馈。进一步假设，这种负面反馈寻求影响人际拒绝的发展，而人际拒绝反过来又维持抑郁发作。然而，最近对这一模型的尝试大多局限于利用非临床样本的研究，这些研究测量了短期内似是而非的关系（如室友和同伴互动）中的人际排斥，并且未能提供负面反馈寻求对障碍过程的影响的纵向检查。提出的调查的目的是通过在符合DSM- IV重度抑郁症标准的已婚妇女样本中测试自我验证模型来建立这一研究体系。本研究将招募抑郁女性、非抑郁女性及其伴侣（n=112对），直接检验(1)重度抑郁、负面反馈寻求和伴侣拒绝之间的主效应关联，(2)负面反馈寻求在重度抑郁和伴侣拒绝之间可能的中介作用，以及(3)负面反馈寻求和伴侣拒绝对抑郁发作时间的联合影响。研究结果将有助于澄清自我验证和重度抑郁症之间横断面和纵向联系的本质。

Abstract: This application proposes an investigation of the self-verification theory of major depression from both a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective. This theory posits that depressed persons actively seek, and prefer, feedback from others that confirms their negative self views. It is further hypothesized that this negative feedback-seeking influences the development of interpersonal rejection that, in turn, serves to maintain the depressive episode. Recent attempts to test this model, however, have been mostly limited to studies that utilize non-clinical samples, that measure interpersonal rejection within specious relationships such a roommate and peer interactions over short periods of time, and that fail to provide longitudinal examinations of the effects of negative feedback- seeking on the course of disorder. The purpose of the proposed investigation is to build upon this body of research by testing the self- verification model within a sample of married women who meet DSM- IV criteria for major depression. Depressed women, non-depressed women, and their partners (n=112 couples) will be recruited to directly examine (1) the main effect associations between major depression, negative feedback-seeking, and partner rejection, (2) the possible mediating effects of negative feedback-seeking on the association between major depression and partner rejection, and (3) the combined effects of negative feedback-seeking and partner rejection on length of the depressive episode. Findings will help clarify the nature of the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between self-verification and major depression.