Self-Discrepancies Among Individuals with a History of Depression: The Role of Feared Self-Guides

• Published in: Cognitive therapy and research Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 847 - 853
• Main Authors: Vergara-Lopez, Chrystal, Roberts, John E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Brief Report; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive ability; Cognitive models; Cognitive Psychology; Depression; Expectancy; Hypotheses; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mood disorders; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life Research; Remission (Medicine); Statistical analysis; Depression; Self-discrepancy theory; Vulnerability; Remission design; Motivation; Feared self; Mood disorder; Human; Affect affectivity; Theory; Personality; Emotion emotionality; Self; History; Social cognition; Fear; Remission; Self concept; Contradiction
• ISSN: 0147-5916; 1573-2819
• DOI: 10.1007/s10608-011-9433-4

This study examined self-discrepancies, self-guide expectancies, and self-guide importance in vulnerability to depression using a remitted depression design. Results indicated that individuals with past episodes of depression exhibited greater actual-feared self-guide congruence compared to their never depressed counterparts. In other words, previously depressed individuals viewed their actual selves as closer to what they feared becoming compared to individuals without a history of depression. Further, individuals with past episodes of depression believed that they would be more likely to embody feared self-guides in the future compared to their never depressed counterparts. These findings remained significant after statistically controlling for differences in current depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that feared self-guides may play an important role in vulnerability to episodes of depression.