A PROSPECTIVE TEST OF AN INTEGRATIVE INTERPERSONAL THEORY OF DEPRESSION - A NATURALISTIC STUDY OF COLLEGE ROOMMATES

This study tested an integrated interpersonal theory of depression, wh ich combines J. C. Coyne's (1976b) interpersonal theory of depression with work on the interplay between self-enhancement and self-consisten cy theory. Students' (targets') and their same-gender roommates' appra isals of each other, depression and anxiety levels, reassurance seekin g, and negative feedback seeking were assessed at Time 1 (T1), and aga in at Time 2 (T2), 3 weeks later. Consistent with the theoretical inte gration (a) Depressed targets reported engaging in more negative feedb ack seeking than nondepressed targets, and tended to report seeking mo re reassurance than nondepressed targets at T1; (b) For male (but not female) targets, the combination of negative feedback seeking, high re assurance seeking, and depression at T1 predicted T1 to T2 increases i n rejection by roommates; and (c) Rejection effects applied to depress ive symptoms, but not anxious symptoms or anhedonic mood.