Marked differences in core beliefs about self and others, between sociotropy and autonomy: personality vulnerabilities in the cognitive model of depression

The association between depression and addictive social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of sense of control

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 precipitated a plethora of mental health difficulties, particularly for those with pre-existing mental health concerns such as depression or addictive tendencies. For some, the distress that emanated from the experience of the pandemic prompted excessive engagement in the safety of online interactions on social media. The present study examined whether variation in individuals' sense of control explained the association between depression and addictive social media use.

METHOD

A sample of 1322 participants from two Middle Eastern nations provided data collected during the peak of the pandemic from February to May 2021. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling were used to recruit and collect data from college-aged students enrolled at two universities in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, respectively. This study adopted a cross-sectional design in which participants completed a self-administered survey that consisted of measures that assessed depressive affect, sense of control, and addictive social media use.

RESULTS

Depression was significantly and positively associated with addictive SMU. Sense of control was negatively related to both depression and SMU and significantly mediated the association between these two variables (β = .62, SE = .03, 95%CI .56, .68).

CONCLUSION

This study identified a potential protective variable that could be targeted by psychological treatment to ameliorate the potential onset of addictive SMU in individuals with depressive symptoms under conditions of immense psychological distress such as a worldwide pandemic.

Dysfunctional Attitudes, Sociotropy-Autonomy, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization in Emerging Adulthood

Understanding the dynamics and vulnerability factors involved in intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among emerging adults is important in order to better prevent it from happening. The current study aimed to investigate the relationships among dysfunctional attitudes, sociotropy-autonomy, and types of IPV victimization (i.e., psychological, physical, and sexual) and severity (i.e., minor or severe) in emerging adulthood. Through an online survey, 929 emerging adults (84.6% women, mean age = 23.61) completed self-report questionnaires related to variables explored. When checking for childhood abuse, dysfunctional attitudes, sociotropy, and autonomy were related to IPV victimization for at least one type of violence and one scale of severity. The regression models show that independence from others and importance given to others are related to greater severe and minor physical violence, respectively. Attraction to loneliness seemed related to lesser minor psychological violence, whilst valorization of freedom of movement and action were related to greater minor sexual violence. The capacity to oppose others seemed related to greater severe sexual violence. These different cognitive and social characteristics may be associated with poorer social skills, thus making emerging adults more vulnerable to IPV victimization. The preventive and clinical implications are discussed.

Implication of core beliefs about negative-self in neuroticism

Objective: Core beliefs about negative-self are beliefs about self-deficiencies in basic aspects of human adaptation. Meanwhile, neuroticism is a personality trait characterised by negative emotionality, i.e., a tendency to react to stress with negative emotions. The present study tested the hypothesis that core beliefs about negative-self are implicated in neuroticism.Methods: The subjects were 309 Japanese healthy volunteers. Core beliefs about negative-self were evaluated by the Brief Core Schema Scales, and neuroticism was evaluated by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised.Results: In both multiple regression analysis and structural equation modelling, higher neuroticism was strongly predicted by higher levels of core beliefs about negative-self.Limitations: The present study cannot determine the causal relationship between core beliefs about negative-self and neuroticism, because of its cross sectional design.Conclusions: The present study suggests that core beliefs about negative-self are deeply implicated in neuroticism.Key PointsImplication of core beliefs about negative-self in neuroticism was examined.Neuroticism was predicted by higher levels of these core beliefs.These core beliefs may be involved in negative emotionality of neuroticism.

Interrelation Between Increased BDNF Gene Methylation and High Sociotropy, a Personality Vulnerability Factor in Cognitive Model of Depression

PURPOSE

It is suggested that increased methylation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is involved in the pathogenesis of depression, while sociotropy and autonomy are proposed as personality vulnerability factors in cognitive model of depression. We examined the interrelation between BDNF gene methylation and sociotropy or autonomy, with taking into account the previously reported deleterious effect of parental overprotection on sociotropy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The participants consisted of 90 healthy Japanese volunteers. Methylation levels of the BDNF gene in peripheral blood were quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Sociotropy and autonomy were assessed by the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale, and perceived parental protection was evaluated by the Parental Bonding Instrument.

RESULTS

In Pearson's correlation analysis, there was a positive correlation between methylation levels of the BDNF gene and sociotropy scores (p<0.05) but not autonomy scores, and a positive correlation between maternal protection scores and sociotropy scores (p<0.05). In structural equation modeling, two models were proposed; the first one is that hypermethylation of the BDNF gene and maternal overprotection independently contribute to high sociotropy, and the second one is that maternal overprotection contributes to high sociotropy which then leads to hypermethylation of the BDNF gene.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests an interrelation between increased BDNF gene methylation and high sociotropy.

Link of negative core beliefs about the self with perceived dysfunctional parenting

Cognitive theory posits the central role of negative core beliefs about the self in cognitive vulnerabilities to depression, and this position is supported by empirical studies. It is also hypothesized that these core beliefs develop as a result of negative interactions with significant others in early life. To test the hypothesis that negative core beliefs about the self are formed by dysfunctional parenting, we examined their relations with perceived parental rearing. The subjects were 355 Japanese healthy volunteers. Core beliefs of negative-self were assessed by the corresponding subscale of the Brief Core Schema Scales. Perceived parental care and protection were evaluated by the corresponding subscales of the Parental Bonding Instrument. In both multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling, core beliefs of negative-self were predicted by perceptions of high maternal protection and low paternal care. The present study shows that negative core beliefs about the self are linked with perceived dysfunctional parenting, suggesting that the formation mechanism of these core beliefs is at least partly ascribable to dysfunctional parenting.

Interrelations among negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and low self-directedness, putative central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in cognitive, attachment and psychobiological personality theories

The present study examined the interrelations among negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and low self-directedness, to test if the central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in cognitive, attachment and psychobiological personality theories are integrated into negative self-image. The subjects were 410 healthy Japanese medical students and staff. Negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and self-directedness were evaluated by the Brief Core Schema Scales, Experiences in Close Relationships and Temperament and Character Inventory, respectively. There were strong interrelations among the three factors. The present study suggests that the central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in the three theories are integrated into negative self-image.