Private self-consciousness: does it influence convergent and discriminant validity of self-reported anxiety and depression?

A continuing problem in measurement of anxiety and depression with self-report is lack of discriminant validity. It is argued that private self-consciousness might be expected to be related to both convergent and discriminant validity of self-reported anxiety and depression. Several self-report measures of anxiety and depression were administered to 157 female undergraduates, ages 20 to 36 years, but no evidence was found for a moderating influence of private self-consciousness. The possibility of lack of correspondence between private self-consciousness and self-awareness with regard to attentiveness to internal states is discussed as a possible explanation.