Self-Derogation and Psychosocial Adjustment

The present investigation sought to verify hypotheses relating to the relationship between self-derogation and selected indices of psychosocial adjustment derived from theoretical statements, clinical observations, and empirical studies (of narrowly defined populations) in the general area of self-attitudes. It was hypothesized that self-derogatory attitudes would be related to reports of psychophysiological manifestations of anxiety, depressive affect, and utilization of psychiatric and other medical helping resources during the year preceding the interview of the subjects. The study group consisted of a random sample (N = 500) of the adult population of Harris County (including the city of Houston), Texas, selected by a three-stage probability sampling design. Data were collected by personal interview survey techniques. Self-derogation was determined by scores on a factorially derived scale. Indices of psychosocial adjustment included self-reports of psychophysiological symptoms, scores on a depressive affect scale, and reports of utilizing psychiatric and other medical resources (for purposes pertinent to experiences of psychophysiological symptoms or depressive affect) during the preceding year. In all instances the hypotheses were confirmed. These data together with consideration of the literature upon which the study was based suggest the possible utility of an explanatory model based on the concept of negative self-attitudes as a general theory of psychosocial deviance.