INTERPERSONAL AND ACHIEVEMENT CONCERNS AND THE DEPRESSIVE VULNERABILITY AND SYMPTOM SPECIFICITY HYPOTHESES - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Some studies suggest that excessive interpersonal and achievement conc erns (1) create vulnerability to depression in response to specificall y congruent negative stressors, and (2) are related to specific conste llations of symptoms among subjects who are depressed. We tested both hypotheses together in one prospective study of students, using Beck's Sociotropy and Autonomy scales, a measure of life events, and self-re ported depressive symptoms. Both sociotropy and autonomy were associat ed with stronger relations between events and depression, but evidence for domain-specific congruence was weak. The specific symptoms hypoth esis was supported for both sociotropy and autonomy We also used Blatt 's Dependency and Self-Criticism scales in testing this hypothesis. De pendency showed specificity, but self-criticism was associated with bo th predicted and nonpredicted depressive symptoms The findings are dis cussed in the context of measurement issues and research directions in interpersonal and achievement concerns and psychopathology.