Negative-feedback seeking leads to depressive symptom increases under conditions of stress

An earlier empirical investigation found the interaction of negative-feedba ck seeking and roommate rejection to be predictive of increases in depressi ve symptoms. This study replicated and elaborated this finding. Participant s who sought negative feedback and performed below their personal standard of success were more likely to experience a subsequent increase in depressi ve symptoms compared with all other students. Furthermore, the interaction of negative-feedback seeking and midterm failure was specific to predicting increases in depressive symptoms, and did not predict anxious symptoms, th us supporting the specificity of the model to depression. These findings su ggest that negative-feedback seeking, combined with a negative Life event, may place an individual at increased risk for depressive symptoms. Potentia l methods and consequences of disrupting the pattern of negative-feedback s eeking are discussed.