Social problem-solving deficits, dependency, and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Depressive symptoms have been linked to deficits in social problem solving. We extended earlier work by evaluating the specificity of problem-solving deficits to depressive (vs. anxiety) symptoms and by incorporating another correlate of depression, interpersonal dependency. Specifically, we addressed (a) a prediction that problem-solving skill and dependency would correlate inversely and (b) the question of whether problem-solving skill is associated with depressive symptom severity, controlling for dependency. In an unselected sample (N=115), results varied for different aspects of social problem solving. Problem-solving skills (e.g., generating multiple alternatives, evaluating pros and cons before deciding) were unrelated to depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or dependency. Problem orientation (a constructive attitude toward problems involving seeing them as manageable challenges) was inversely related to dependency and to both depressive and anxiety symptom severity. The relation between problem orientation and depressive symptoms was reduced but not eliminated by controlling statistically for dependency.