title: Broad and specific personality dimensions associated with major depression in a nationally representative sample.
abstract: Separate lines of research using select study groups have identified both broad (neuroticism, extraversion) and specific (self-criticism, interpersonal dependency) personality dimensions associated with major depression. The current study sought to extend research on personality and depression to a large, nationally representative sample. Participants were from the National Comorbidity Survey Part II (N = 5,877). A detailed psychosocial battery that included items from established indices of neuroticism, extraversion, self-criticism, and three facets of interpersonal dependency was administered to all respondents. Separate regression analyses indicated that each of the personality dimensions was significantly associated with lifetime major depression. In a hierarchical multivariate regression analysis that controlled for sociodemographic variables, history of anxiety disorders, alcohol or substance abuse or dependence, dysthymic disorder, and current emotional distress, self-criticism was the only personality dimension that remained significantly associated with major depression. The inclusion of self-criticism also significantly improved the overall statistical model. Results from this nationally representative mental health survey indicate that self-criticism is robustly associated with major depression. In contrast, several other personality dimensions may be associated with major depression because of shared variance with psychiatric history and current emotional distress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Lachlan A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McWilliams
authors.forename: Murray W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Enns
authors.forename: Ian P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Clara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires