Depressive symptoms as a function of trait anxiety and impulsivity.

Abstract

This research examined differences in depressive symptomatology as assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in a large sample (n = 267) of young adults who scored in the upper ranges on trait anxiety and/or impulsivity measures. Given previous research which has identified anxiety and impulsivity as important organizing dimensions for personality, personality pathology, and behavior, a goal of this present research was to identify specific depressive symptoms that were uniquely associated with either anxiety or impulsivity. Results indicated that the presence of impulsivity without coexisting anxiety was associated with the endorsement of fewer depressive symptoms and lower BDI scores. An examination of specific depressive symptoms as a function of anxiety and impulsivity revealed three general response patterns across 20 of the 21 BDI items.