Inside Thoughts and Outside Influences: Cognitive Vulnerability Moderates the Effect of Decreases in Perceived Social Support on Depressive Symptoms
Abstract
A three time-point longitudinal design was used to investigate the relationship among aversive interpersonal behaviors (self-reported reassurance seeking and negative feedback seeking), cognitive vulnerability, perceived social support, and depressive and anxious symptoms. There were two primary hypotheses: (a) negative interpersonal behaviors would lead to decreases in perceived social support, and (b) a perceived loss of social support would lead to future depressive symptoms for those with high, but not low, levels of cognitive vulnerability. Consistent with hypotheses, results showed that negative feedback seeking predicted decreases in perceived social support. Individuals who experienced a loss of perceived social support were most likely to exhibit an increase in depressive symptoms if they had high levels of cognitive vulnerability. This pattern of results was specific to depressive, but not anxious symptoms. The theoretical and therapeutic implications of the results are discussed.
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Social support predicts depression.
“Specifically, there is evidence that social support predicts depression and depression predicts social support.9,10,28,29”
There is evidence for bidirectional relationships between perceived social support and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“Finally, there is some evidence for bidirectional relationships between perceived social support and symptoms of anxiety and depression.”
Depression predicts social support.
“Specifically, there is evidence that social support predicts depression and depression predicts social support.9,10,28,29”
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- Authors
- Haeffel, G. J., & Mathew, A. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Notre Dame (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2010-03
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 281-300
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2104601061
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- cognitive vulnerability, perceived social support, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, reassurance seeking, interpersonal behavior, moderation, depression
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