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.
Naragon-Gainey
Kristin
K
Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1407, USA. kristin-naragon@uiowa.edu
Watson
David
D
Markon
Kristian E
KE
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