Interpersonal problem behaviors associated with dysfunctional attitudes

Abstract

In recent years, there has been increasinginterest in the integration of cognitive andinterpersonal features of depression and other emotionaland behavioral disorders. Based on the hypothesis thatcognitive and interpersonal styles mutually influence oneanother, the current study examined the perceivedinterpersonal problem behaviors associated withdysfunctional attitudes regarding themes of achievement and autonomy versus approval and acceptance ina sample of 390 undergraduates. Results suggested thatdysfunctional attitudes regarding achievement andautonomy, and to a lesser extent approval andacceptance, were related to perceived problematicinterpersonal behaviors. A secondary purpose of thestudy was to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis ofCane, Olinger, Gotlib, and Kuiper's (1986) two-factormodel of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale. Resultsprovided only a modest replication of a two-factorsolution. Post hoc modifications resulted in a revisedtwo-factor solution that provided a better fit with the data.