Differential relations of depression and social anxiety symptoms to the facets of extraversion/positive emotionality.
Previous research has shown that both depression and social anxiety--2 facets of internalizing psychopathology--are characterized by low levels of extraversion/positive emotionality (E/PE). However, little is known about the relations of the facets of E/PE with the symptoms of depression and social anxiety. This study utilized multiple measures of each facet of E/PE, as well as depression and social anxiety symptoms. Self-report data were collected from large samples of college students and psychiatric outpatients. Separate factor analyses in each sample revealed a 4-factor structure of E/PE consisting of Sociability, Positive Emotionality, Ascendance, and Fun-Seeking. Structural equation modeling revealed that, after controlling for the higher order internalizing factor and the overlap among the E/PE facets, social anxiety was broadly related to all 4 facets of E/PE, whereas depression was strongly related to only low positive emotionality. Implications for hierarchical models of personality and psychopathology, assessment and treatment, and etiological models are discussed.
Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1407, USA. kristin-naragon@uiowa.edu
Kristin
K
Naragon-Gainey
David
D
Watson
Kristian E
KE
Markon
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010990:Pleasure-Pain Principle; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult