Self-discrepancy and psychopathology: The mediating role of ontological insecurity

The present study examined a transdiagnostic continuum model of psychopathology wherein ontological insecurity (the propensity toward self-fragmentation) was conceptualised as an extension of self-discrepancy (the presence of incongruities and inconsistencies in the self), more proximal to psychopathology. Accordingly, it was hypothesised that ontological insecurity would mediate the relationship between ideal self-discrepancy (perceived discrepancy between actual and ideal self) and a range of psychopathologies: Depression, anxiety, and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). The following measures were administered to a community sample of 142 participants: A modified version of the Self-Discrepancy Scale (S-DS), the Ontological Insecurity Scale (OIS-34), the Depression and Anxiety subscales of the DASS-21, and the Positive Symptom subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15). The hypothesis was supported with respect to the distress arising from the actual-ideal discrepancy but not in relation to global ratings of self-discrepancy or ratings of self-discrepancy on desired traits or characteristics. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that distress over ideal self-discrepancy was significantly and positively associated with depression, anxiety, and PLEs. These relationships ceased to be significant once ontological insecurity entered the equation in the final step. In line with the transdiagnostic continuum model, ontological insecurity fully mediated the relationship between distress and all measures of psychopathology. Moreover, it accounted for far more of the variance in those measures than ideal self-discrepancy distress. The transdiagnostic implications for psychological interventions are discussed.