Degree
Master of Science
Program
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. David J. A. Dozois
Abstract
Depression is associated with a host of interpersonal difficulties, particularly within intimate relationships. While a significant body of literature has supported the presence of a highly consolidated negative self representation or “self-schema”, no studies have examined whether depression is also associated with a highly organized negative “partner-schema”, and whether this represents a risk factor for relationship distress. Given the high degree of similarity between cognitive representations of self and close others, it was predicted that depression would be associated with a partner-schema structure mirroring that of the self-schema: an organized cognitive structure characterized by tightly interconnected negative information, and loosely dispersed positive information. In a sample of 291 undergraduate students, results supported this hypothesis, and revealed that partner-schema structure was associated with relationship quality and attributions about a partner’s behaviours. These findings have important implications for understanding the link between cognitive risk factors, relational dysfunction, and depressive symptoms.
Recommended Citation
Wilde, Jesse Lee, "It's Not Me It's You: Examining the Link Between Partner-Schema Organization, Relationship Functioning, and Depressive Symptoms" (2017). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 4662.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4662
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons