Sensitivity to criticism differentially mediates the relationship between interpersonal problems and state and trait...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Depression, both state-like and trait-like, is linked to interpersonal difficulties.
• Sensitivity to criticism may be a key mechanism explaining this link.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mediating role of sensitivity to criticism in the relationship between depression and interpersonal problems.
• To differentiate the influence of state versus trait depression on interpersonal functioning.

Main Methods:

• 414 undergraduates completed self-report measures for state depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), trait depression (Depressive Personality Disorder Inventory), sensitivity to criticism, and interpersonal problems.
• Statistical mediation analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Sensitivity to criticism significantly mediated the association between both state and trait depression and interpersonal problems across five interpersonal dimensions.
• Sensitivity to criticism showed a stronger association with the trait depression-interpersonal problems link than the state depression-interpersonal problems link, after controlling for the other depression type.

Conclusions:

• Sensitivity to criticism is a significant mediator linking depression to interpersonal problems.
• Trait depression's impact on interpersonal functioning via sensitivity to criticism is more pronounced than state depression's impact.