Self-verification model of major depression in marriage

摘要：本研究从横向和纵向两个角度对抑郁症的自我验证理论进行了研究。这一理论假设，抑郁的人积极寻求并更喜欢从他人那里获得证实其负面自我观点的反馈。进一步的假设是，这种负反馈寻求影响人际拒绝的发展，而人际拒绝反过来又有助于维持抑郁发作。然而，最近测试这一模型的尝试大多局限于利用非临床样本的研究，这些研究衡量了短期内室友和同伴互动等似是而非的关系中的人际拒绝，未能提供关于寻求负面反馈对紊乱过程的影响的纵向检验。拟议调查的目的是通过在符合DSM-IV严重抑郁症标准的已婚女性样本中测试自我验证模型，以此来建立这一研究机构。抑郁女性、非抑郁女性和她们的伴侣(n=112对)将被招募来直接考察(1)严重抑郁、负反馈寻求和伴侣拒绝之间的主要效应联系，(2)负反馈寻求在严重抑郁和伴侣拒绝之间可能的中介作用，以及(3)负反馈寻求和伴侣拒绝对抑郁发作长度的综合影响。研究结果将有助于澄清自我验证和严重抑郁之间的横向和纵向关联的性质。

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.