Appreciation is extended to Wendy Kliewer for her insightful advice regarding the statistical procedures used in this research.
Negative Affectivity, Social Support, and the Prediction of Depression and Distress
Article first published online: 28 APR 2006
Journal of Personality
Volume 62, Issue 3, pages 299–319, September 1994
How to Cite
Elliott, T. R., Marmarosh, C. and Pickelman, H. (1994), Negative Affectivity, Social Support, and the Prediction of Depression and Distress. Journal of Personality, 62: 299–319. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1994.tb00299.x
- Issue published online: 28 APR 2006
- Article first published online: 28 APR 2006
- Manuscript received November 11, 1992; revised July 13, 1993.
ABSTRACT In the work we present in this article, we examined the contaminating effects of trait negative affectivity (TNA) on the relations between social support and psychological distress among college undergraduates. In the first study, it was suspected that controlling for TNA would substantially alter the associations between social support (as measured by the Social Provisions Scale) and depression at the initial assessment and later with negative mood prior to a course examination. Actual results from cross-sectional hierarchical regression analyses revealed that controlling for TNA reduced-but did not nullify-associations between reassurance of worth support and depression. TNA did not mediate the relation of reliable alliance support to state NA measured 2 weeks later prior to a course examination. Finally, a second study controlling for TNA found reassurance of worth support remained a significant prospective predictor of depression during the week of final examinations. Results are integrated with theoretical and measurement issues in social support research.