Self-criticism versus neuroticism in predicting depression and psychosocial impairment for 4 years in a clinical sample

Abstract

The present study extended previous findings demonstrating self-criticism, assessed by the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) (Weissman AN, Beck AT. Development and validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: a preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the 86th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1978), as a potentially important prospective predictor of depressive symptoms and psychosocial functional impairment over time. Using data from a prospective, 4-year study of a clinical sample, DAS self-criticism and neuroticism were associated with self-report depressive symptoms, interviewer-rated major depression, and global domains of psychosocial functional impairment 4 years later. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that self-criticism uniquely predicted depressive symptoms, major depression, and global psychosocial impairment 4 years later over and above the Time 1 assessments of these outcomes and neuroticism. In contrast, neuroticism was a unique predictor of self-report depressive symptoms only 4 years later. Path analyses were used to test a preliminary 3-wave mediational model and demonstrated that negative perceptions of social support at 3 years mediated the relation between self-criticism and depression/global psychosocial impairment for 4 years.

Mindfulness and Self-compassion as Unique and Common Predictors of Affect in the General Population

“…Non-judgment also showed to significantly predict psychological symptoms. These two facets measure a self-critical attitude that has shown to be an important determinant for depressive symptoms (Dunkley et al 2006 2009). Finally, our findings suggest that the mindfulness skills to be observing, able to describe internal and external experiences, non-reacting to emotions and thoughts, and to act with awareness, are all predictors of positive affect.…”

Chronic Stress and Attenuated Improvement in Depression Over 1 Year: The Moderating Role of Perfectionism

“…However, there is evidence that SC can be distinguished from neuroticism, as SC uniquely relates to negative interpersonal characteristics (e.g., negative social interactions) and depressive symptoms (e.g., Dunkley, Sanislow, et al, 2006;Dunkley, Sanislow, Grilo & McGlashan, 2009; see Zuroff et al, 2004). There is also some evidence that SC perfectionists' higher reactivity to stress is due to overlap with both PS and neuroticism in nonclinical community adults (Dunkley, Mandel, et al, 2014).…”

Personal Standards and Self-Critical Perfectionism and Distress: Stress, Coping, and Perceived Social Support as Mediators and Moderators

“…The relation between SC perfectionism and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by lower perceived social support in a study of undergraduate students (Sherry, Law, Hewitt, Flett, & Besser, 2008). Further, a test of a 3-wave mediational model in a sample of patients demonstrated that negative perceptions of social support at 3 years mediated the relation between Time 1 SC perfectionism and depression over 4 years (Dunkley et al, 2009). …”