The relationship between the organization of the self-concept and depressive symptoms

Cognitive theories highlight the role of negative thoughts about the self in the maintenance of depressive states. Depression may be maintained in part by the negative content of thoughts about the self, by the relative accessibility of negative views within the self-concept, or both. This study used an idiographic design to examine the relationship between the organization of the self-concept and depressive symptoms. 85 participants listed then described various self-aspects in a structured interview. Analyses of these responses using Hierarchical Classes (HICLAS) allowed for a test of Showers' (1992) theory that posits a relation between depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and the compartmentalization of positive and negative features across self-aspects. Depressive symptoms and levels of self-esteem were not associated with the degree to which participants compartmentalized positive and negative self-descriptors. Implications of these findings for cognitive models and clinical practice are discussed.