Real and perceived interpersonal responses to subclinically anxious and depressed targets

Abstract

In an effort to evaluate the generalizability of past research that has examined the social responses to depressed targets, the interpersonal responses to normal, anxious, and depressed-anxious female undergraduate targets (n = 20 per cell) was assessed. As well, the targets' perceptions of the social responses they elicited was contrasted with the actual responses in order to identify potential distortions in how normal, anxious, and depressed-anxious targets perceive their interpersonal impact. The results showed that although the three groups of targets were responded to in essentially equal ways, the depressed-anxious and anxious targets believed they were more rejected. No differences in the targets' perceptions of induced mood or interpersonal impact were found. The implications of these results for Coyne's interpersonal model of depression and cognitive models of depression were discussed. Also, the relationship between anxiety and depression was highlighted, and it is suggested that the interpersonal responses to conditions other than depression warrant further investigation.