Autonomy support buffers the impact of self-criticism on depression

Abstract

The current study examined the associations among self-criticism, perceptions of autonomy support, and depression prior to and during the onset of the Covid pandemic. 283 students at a large Canadian university participated in a goal related study, and completed questionnaires assessing personality, autonomy support, and depressive symptoms starting in September of 2019 and ending in May of 2020. The results showed that self-criticism was associated with increases in depressive symptomatology, and that autonomy support was inversely associated with depression. The results also showed that autonomy support moderated the effect of self-criticism on depression such that individuals with higher baseline self-criticism who perceived high levels of autonomy support reported lower levels of depression during the beginning of the pandemic. These results confirm the deleterious impact of selfcriticism and the potential benefits of autonomy support. The presence of autonomy support appears to buffer those who are high in self-criticism from increased depressive symptoms. These results have important clinical implications, suggesting the need to address the perniciousness of self-criticism and the need to develop innovative ways to enhance the delivery of autonomy support.