Feedback-seeking and depression in survivors of domestic violence.
BACKGROUND
Not surprisingly, women in violent relationships often experience symptoms of depression. Although most people desire praise and positive feedback, individuals who are depressed often seek either negative or "even-handed" self-relevant information. The relative lack of positive feedback-seeking exhibited by depressed individuals may have implications for understanding the difficulty that survivors of domestic violence have leaving and remaining apart from abusive partners.


METHODS
This study was designed to assess the relative preference for self-relevant information in two groups of women: women who experienced domestic violence (DV group) and women who did not have these experiences (no-DV group).


CONCLUSIONS
The DV group (n=30), relative to the no-DV group (n=28), desired less positive (or relatively more negative) feedback. Further, depression mediated the relationship between DV and seeking less positive feedback. Motivational and cognitive explanations for this pattern of results are discussed.
National Center for PTSD, Women's Health Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, USA. Suzanne.Pineles@va.gov
Suzanne L
SL
Pineles
Susan
S
Mineka
Richard E
RE
Zinbarg
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012008:Recurrence; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*