title: Understanding the relationship between actual:ideal discrepancies and depressive symptoms: a developmental examination.
abstract: Self-discrepancy theory (SDT) is one framework for understanding how goal failure is associated with depressive symptoms. The present studies sought to examine the variance in depressive symptoms explained by actual:ideal discrepancies, beyond what is accounted for by actual-self ratings. Additionally, gender and grade were examined as potential moderators in the relationship. In Study 1 (N = 228), discrepancies accounted for additional variance in the level of depressive symptoms beyond what was explained by actual-self ratings in a college sample. In Study 2 (N = 192), while similar global patterns were found, gender and grade differences emerged. For boys, the relationship between actual:ideal discrepancies and depressive symptoms was due to actual-self ratings. For girls, a developmental pattern suggested that actual:ideal discrepancies become more important to the prediction of depressive symptoms among older girls. Implications for the emergence of the discrepancy-depression association are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, USA. Electronic address: estevens@niu.edu.
authors.forename: Erin N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, USA.
authors.forename: M Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lovejoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, USA.
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Pittman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depressive symptoms; Development; Self-discrepancies