Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interpersonal Factors in Depression

  • Chapter
Personality, Social Skills, and Psychopathology

Part of the book series: Perspectives on Individual Differences ((PIDF))

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to review theories and lines of research that implicate interpersonal processes in depression. To begin, principal theories of depression that emphasize interpersonal factors will be presented. This section includes a review of the specific conceptual questions that are pertinent to each theory. The second portion of the chapter presents a critical review of the empirical literature, along with commentary on methodological problems in this area of research. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of the current status of the literature and suggestions for future work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Altman, J. H., & Wittenborn, Jr. (1980). Depression-prone personality in women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 303–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aneshensel, C. S., & Frerichs, R. R. (1982). Stress, support, and depression: A longitudinal causal model. Journal of Community Psychology, 10, 363–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aneshensel, C. S., & Stone, J. D. (1982). Stress and depression: A test of the buffering model of social support. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 1392–1396.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anisman, H., & Zacharko, R. M. (1982). Depression: The predisposing influence of stress. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 5, 89–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barrera, M., Jr. (1981). Social support in the adjustment of pregnant adolescents: Assessment issues. In B. H. Gottlieb (Ed.), Social networks and social support (pp. 69–96). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bebbington, P. E., Sturt, E., Tennant, C., & Hurry, J. (1984). Misfortune and resilience: A community study of women. Psychology Medicine, 14, 347–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billings, A. G., & Moos, R. H. (1983). Comparisons of children of depressed and nondepressed parents: A socio-environmental perspective. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 463–485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Billings, A. G., & Moos, R. H. (1985). Psychosocial processes of remission in unipolar depression: Comparing depressed patients with matched community controls. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 314–325.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Billings, A. G., & Moos, R. H. (1986). Children of parents with unipolar depression: A controlled 1-year follow-up. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 149–166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Billings, A. G., Cronkite, R. C., & Moos, R. H. (1983). Social-environmental factors in unipolar depression: Comparisons of depressed patients and nondepressed controls. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92, 119–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blumberg, S. R., & Hokanson, J. E. (1983). Effects of response style on behavior in depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 196–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. W., & Harris, T. (1978). Social origins of depression: A study of psychiatric disorders in women. London: Tavistock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, E. A., Cope, S. J., & Teasdale, J. D. (1983). Social factors and affective disorder: An investigation of Brown and Harris’s model. British Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 548–553.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coates, D., & Wortman, C. B. (1980). Depression maintenance and interpersonal control. In A. Baum & J. Singer (Eds.), Advances in environmental psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 149–182). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cofer, D. H., & Wittenborn, J. R. (1980). Personality characteristics of formerly depressed women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 309–314.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Hoberman, H. M. (1983). Positive events and social supports as buffers of life change stress. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 13, 99–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costello, C. G. (1982). Social factors associated with depression: A retrospective community study. Psychological Medicine, 12, 329–339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C. (1976a). Toward an interactional description of depression. Psychiatry, 39, 28–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C. (1976b). Depression and the response of others. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 186–193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., & Gotlib, I. H. (1983). The role of cognition in depression: A critical appraisal. Psychological Bulletin, 94, 472–505.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., Aldwin, C., & Lazarus, R. S. (1981). Depression and coping in stressful episodes. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 90, 439–447.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., Kessler, R. C., Tal, M., Turnbull, J., Wortman, C. B., & Greden, J. (1987). Living with a depressed person: Burden and psychological distress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 347–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Depue, R. A., & Monroe, S. M. (1986). Conceptualization and measurement of human disorder in life stress research: The problem of chronic disturbance. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 36–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, P., & Friesen, W.V. (1974). Nonverbal behavior and psychopathology. In R. J. Friedman and M. M. Katz (Eds.), The psychology of depression: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 84–101). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1986). Stress processes and depressive symptomology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 107–113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gore, S. (1978). The effect of social support in moderating the health consequences of unemployment. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 157–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gotlib, I. H. (1984). Depression and general psychopathology in university students. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 93, 19–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gotlib, I. H., & Asarnow, R. B. (1979). Interpersonal and impersonal problem-solving skills in mildly and clinically depressed university students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 47, 86–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gotlib, I. H., & Robinson, L. A. (1982). Responses to depressed individuals: Discrepancies between self-report and observer-rated behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 231–240.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammen, C. L., & Peters, S. D. (1977). Differential responses to male and female depressive reactions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 994–1001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammen, C. L., & Peters, S. D. (1978). Interpersonal consequences of depression: Response to men and women enacting a depressed role. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87, 322–332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinchliffe, M., Hooper, D., Roberts, F. J., & Vaughn, P. W. (1975). A study of the interaction between depressed patients and their spouses. British Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 164–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinchliffe, M. K., Lancashire, M., & Roberts, F. J. (1971). A study of eye-contact in depressed and recovered psychiatric patients. British Journal of Psychiatry, 119, 213–215.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, B. J., Moos, R. H., & Reischl, T. M. (1985). Psychosocial adjustment of adolescent children of a depressed, arthritic, or normal parent. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 154–164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hokanson, J. E., & Meyer, B. E. B. (1984). Interpersonal expectancies and preferences for various types of social behaviors of depressed outpatients. Journal of Personal and Social Relationships, 1, 279–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hokanson, J. E., Lowenstein, D. A., Hedeen, C., & Howes, M. J. (1986). Dysphoric college students and roommates: A study of social behaviors over a three-month period. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 12, 311–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hokanson, J. E., Sacco, W. R., Blumberg, S. R., & Landrum, G. C. (1980). Interpersonal behavior of depressive individuals in a mixed-motive game. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 320–332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollon, S. D., Kendall, P. C., & Lumry, A. (1986). Specificity of depressotypic cognitions in clinical depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 52–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howes, M. J. (1983). Depression and the development of interpersonal relationships. (Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 1982) Dissertation Abstracts International, 43 (9), 3031.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howes, M. J., & Hokanson, J. E. (1979). Conversational and social responses to depressive interpersonal behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88, 625–634.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howes, M. J., Hokanson, J. E., & Loewenstein, D. A. (1985). Induction of depressive affect after prolonged exposure to a mildly depressed individual. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 1110–1113.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karasek, R. A., Triantis, K. P., & Chaudhry, S. C. (1982). Coworkers and supervisor support as moderators of associations between task characteristics and mental strain. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 3, 181–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, M. B., Klerman, G. L., Lavori, P. W., Coryell, W., Endicott, J., & Taylor, J. (1984). Long-term outcome of episodes of major depression: Clinical and public health significance. Journal of the American Medical Association, 252, 788–792.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, D. A., & Heller, K. (1984). Depression and the response of others: A re-evaluation. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 93, 477–480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laforge, R., & Suczek, R. (1955). The interpersonal dimension of personality: III. Interpersonal checklist. Journal of Personality, 24, 94–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M. (1974). A behavioral approach to depression. In R. J. Friedman & M. M. Katz (Eds.), The psychology of depression: Contemporary theory and research (pp. 157–178). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M. (1975). The Unpleasant Events Schedule: A scale for the measurement of aversive events. Unpublished memo, University of Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M., Steinmetz, J. L., Larson, D. W., & Franklin, J. (1981). Depression-related cognitions: Antecedent or consequence? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 90, 213–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M., Mischel, W., Chaplin, W., & Barton, R. (1980). Social competence and depression: The role of illusory self-perceptions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 203–212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M., Hoberman, H. M., Hautzinger, M., & Teri, L. (1982). Cognitive distortion: Consequence rather than cause of depression. Paper presented at the 16th American Association of Behavior Therapy Convention, Los Angeles, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M., Youngren, M. A., & Grosscup, S. J. (1979). Reinforcement and depression. In R. A. Depue (Ed.), The psychobiology of depressive disorders: Implications for the effects of stress (pp. 291–316). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Libet, J. M., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (1973). Concept of social skill with special reference to the behavior of depressed persons. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 40, 304–312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, N., Dean, A., & Ensel, W. M. (1986). Social support, life events, and depression. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marks, T., & Hammen, C. L. (1982). Interpersonal mood induction: Situational and individual determinants. Motivation and Emotion, 6, 387–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacPhillamy, D. J., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (1976). Manual for the Pleasant Events Schedule. Unpublished manuscript, University of Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. H., Norman, G. R., Streiner, D. L., & Roy, R. J. (1983). The process of social stress: Stable, reciprocal, and mediating relationships. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 160–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLemore, C. W., & Benjamin, L. S. (1979). Whatever happened to interpersonal diagnosis? American Psychologist, 34, 17–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, R. E., Billings, A. G., & Moos, R. H. (1982). Social support and well-being: Implications for prevention programs. Journal of Primary Prevention, 3, 77–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, S. M., & Steiner, S. C. (1986). Social support and psychopathology: Interrelations with preexisting disorder, stress, and personality. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 29–39.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, S. M., Bellack, A. S., Hersen, M., & Himmelhoch, J. M. (1983). Life events, symptom course, and treatment outcome in unipolar depressed women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 604–615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monroe, S. M., Bromet, E. J., Connell, M. M., & Steiner, S. C. (1986). Social support, life events, and depressive symptoms: A 1-year prospective study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 424–431.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oatley, K., & Bolton, W. (1985). A social-cognitive theory of depression in reaction to life events. Psychological Review, 92, 372–388.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, M. K., Lancee, W. J., & Freeman, S. J. J. (1986). Psychosocial factors and depressive symptoms. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174, 15–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paykel, E. S. (1979). Causal relations between clinical depression and life events. In J. E. Barrett, R. M. Rose, & G. L. Klerman (Eds.), Stress and mental disorder (pp. 71–86). New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paykel, E. S., Myers, J. K., Dienelt, M. N., Klerman, G. L., Lindenthal, J. J., & Pepper, M. P. (1969). Life events and depression: A controlled study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 21, 753–760.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paykel, E. S., Emms, E. M., Fletcher, J., & Rassaby, E. S. (1980). Life events and social support in puerperal depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 136, 339–346.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I., Lieberman, M. A., Menaghan, E. G., & Mullan, J. T. (1981). The stress process. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 337–356.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Platt, J. J., & Spivack, G. (1975). Manual for the Means-Ends Problem-Solving Procedure (MEPS): A measure of interpersonal cognitive problem-solving skill. Philadelphia: Hahnermann Medical College and Hospital.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pond, C. A. (1986). The effect of expectations about depression on perception and behavior in dyadic interactions. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 1985) Dissertation Abstracts International, 48 (01B), 273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousanville, B. J., Prusoff, B. A., & Weissman, M. M. (1980). The course of marital disputes in depressed women: A 48-month follow-up study. Comparative Psychiatry, 21, 111–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rousanville, B. J., Weissman, M. W., Prusoff, B. A., & Herceg-Baron, R. L. (1979). Marital disputes and treatment outcome in depressed women. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 20, 483–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sacco, W. P., Milana, S., & Dunn, V. (1985). Effects of depression level and length of acquaintance on reactions of others to a request for help. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 1728–1737.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, R. S. (1985). Factors mediating responses to depressed interpersonal behavior. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 1985) Dissertation Abstracts International, 46 (11), 461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strack, S., & Coyne, J. C. (1983). Social confirmation of dysphoria: Shared and private reactions to depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, 798–806.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Targun, S. D., Dibble, E. D., Davenport, Y. B., & Gershon, E. S. (1981). The family attitude questionnaire: Patient and spouses views of bipolar illness. Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 562–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. J., & Noh, S. (1982). Social support, life events, and psychological distress: A three wave panel analysis. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Sociological Association, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn, C. E., & Leff, J. (1981). Patterns of emotional response in the relatives of schizophrenic patients. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 7, 43–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Welker, R. A. (1986). The coping behavior of depressives in social situations. Unpublished master’s thesis, Florida State University, Tallahassee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, M. S., & Paykel, E. S. (1974). The depressed woman: A study of social relationships. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wierzbicki, M. (1984). Social skills deficits and subsequent depressed mood in students. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 10, 605–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox, B. L. (1981). Social support, life stress, and psychological adjustment: A test of the buffering hypothesis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 9, 371–386.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Youngren, M. A., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (1980). The functional relation between depression and problematic interpersonal behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 333–341.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Youngren, M. A., Zeiss, A., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (1975). Interpersonal Events Schedule. Unpublished manuscript, University of Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeiss, A. M., Lewinsohn, P. M., & Munoz, R. F. (1979). Nonspecific improvement effects in depression using interpersonal skills training, pleasant activities, schedules, or cognitive training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 47, 427–439.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zemore, R., & Dell, L. W. (1983). Interpersonal problem-solving skills and depression proneness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 9, 231–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306, USA

    Jack E. Hokanson & Mark P. Rubert

Authors
  1. Jack E. Hokanson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark P. Rubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois, USA

    David G. Gilbert

  2. Private Practice, New London, Connecticut, USA

    James J. Connolly

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hokanson, J.E., Rubert, M.P. (1991). Interpersonal Factors in Depression. In: Gilbert, D.G., Connolly, J.J. (eds) Personality, Social Skills, and Psychopathology. Perspectives on Individual Differences. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0635-9_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0635-9_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0637-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0635-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation