Depressive Personality Styles and the Five-Factor Model of Personality

Abstract The depressive personality constructs described by Blatt (1990: Dependency and Self-Criticism) and Beck (1983: Sociotropy and Autonomy) were examined in relation to the five-factor model of personality. Male (N = 91) and female (N = 81) undergraduates completed the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (Blatt, D'Afflitti, & Quinlan, 1976), the Personal Style Inventory (Robins et al., 1993), and the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI, Costa & McCrae, 1985) Friends of the subjects completed a peer-report version of the NEO-PI Dependency and Sociotropy were positively correlated with Neuroticism and with Agreeableness in both men and women. In women, Self-Criticism and Autonomy were positively correlated with Neuroticism and negatively correlated with Agreeableness. In men, Self-Criticism was positively correlated with Neuroticism, but Autonomy was negatively correlated with Agreeableness and Openness. Similarities and differences between Blatt and Beck's constructs were discussed. Research addressing vulnerability to depression may be able to profit from work on the five-factor model of personality.