THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERPERSONAL SELF-SUPPORT AND DEPRESSION: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Previous cross-sectional studies have found that most traits of interpersonal self-support (ISS) were associated with depression symptoms, but longitudinal studies have been lacking. The Interpersonal Self-Support Scale for Adolescent Students (ISSS-AS) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were administrated twice over a six month interval to 427 participants recruited from five universities. Cross-lagged path analysis revealed that depression at Time 1 significantly negatively predicted the five ISS subscales: interpersonal independence (IId), interpersonal initiative (II), interpersonal responsibility (IR), interpersonal flexibility (IF), and interpersonal openness (IO), at Time 2 after controlling for prior levels of the five ISS traits. In addition, IR at Time 1 predicted depression at Time 2 even after controlling for prior levels of depression and the other ISS subscales (IId, II, IF, and IO) at Time 1. The results suggest: (1) that IR may serve as a protective personality factor for depression and (2) that depression may negatively influence interpersonal traits related to interpersonal problem-solving.