Exploring the Relationship between Excessive Reassurance Seeking and Depression: A Comparison between Participant and Informant Responses

This study expanded on prior research exploring the relationship between excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) and depression by conducting a longitudinal study using two reporting sources (participants and informants). The current research was also the first to examine a sequential mediation model, with interpersonal competence as an antecedent in this relationship. One-hundred and ten participants completed measures at two time-points, separated by five weeks. Corresponding informants completed comparable measures at participants’ Time 2. Results revealed differences based on reporting source, with more significant correlations found among participant- as compared to informant-reported variables. Moreover, findings supported interpersonal competence as an antecedent to the ERS-depression relationship. Finally, this research highlighted the role of brooding, in addition to ERS, in the development of depressive symptoms. This study offers support for further consideration of methodology on outcomes, underlines the role of interpersonal competence as a precursor to depression, and encourages clinicians to target both brooding and ERS behavior in the treatment and prevention of depression.