This study examined the influence of two personality variables, Dependency and Self-Criticism, on mothers' postpartum adjustment. These dimensions were also examined in relation to social support and infant characteristics. During pregnancy, 204 primiparous women completed measures of Dependency and Self-Criticism, depressive symptomatology and mood, and social support. A subsample of 72 women, identified as Dependent, Self-Critical, Mixed, or Control, were assessed at 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum on measures of depressive symptoms, mood, and maternal characteristics. Infant measures were obtained at 6 weeks and 3 months. Multiple regression analyses revealed that Self-Criticism was a stronger predictor of depressive symptomatology and mood than Dependency and predicted a wider range of problems in maternal role functioning. Social support and infant characteristics made significant contributions to postpartum adjustment, and maternal depressive symptoms predicted less optimal infant socioemotional development. Results suggest the need to modify current conceptualizations of Dependency and Self-Criticism. Implications for identification and treatment of women vulnerable to adjustment problems during the transition to motherhood were discussed.

Although previous research has examined how dependent and self-critical people recall their parents, there has been little investigation of the influence of Dependency and Self-Criticism on parental attitudes and behavior. The present research examined these relationships in mothers of adolescent children. In Studies 1, 2, and 3, mothers completed measures of Dependency and Self-Criticism and of baseline affect, then were given experimentally manipulated feedback about the child's competence and autonomy. Affect was assessed again, and mothers "coached" children on computer problem-solving puzzles. Studies 1 and 2 examined mothers of adolescent girls, and Study 3 examined mothers of adolescent boys. In mothers of adolescent girls, Dependency was associated with punitive and controlling reactions to daughter autonomy. This was also true of mothers of less competent adolescent sons. In mothers of highly competent sons, however, Dependency was associated with punitive and controlling reactions to low autonomy. Dependency was also associated with increases in depressed affect in response to daughter, but not son, autonomy. In mothers of adolescent girls, Self-Criticism was associated with punitive behavior, regardless of the manipulated characteristics of the daughters. This was true even when, in Study 2, the highly competent performance of daughters was made extremely salient. Self-Criticism had no discernible impact on the parental behavior of mothers of adolescent sons. These results were interpreted as indicating that, especially in mothers of adolescent daughters, parents high in Dependency and Self-Criticism interact with their children in ways that are likely to foster the development of Self-criticism and Dependency in their children. Study 4 examined the relationship between parent and child Dependency and Self-Criticism in the combined data collected from the first three studies. Contrary to expectations, there was no relationship between parent and child

The two studies reported in this thesis examine the influence of two depressive personality styles, dependency and self-criticism, on how individuals respond to potentially disruptive events, such as a change in or threat to social rank. The studies used an experimental protocol in which participants were allowed to believe firstly that they outperformed a close friend or were outperformed by a close friend and secondly that friends generally agreed or disagreed with them. Findings offer support for the integration of depressive personality styles and interpersonal factors within a social rank framework. Results from the two studies suggest that dependency and self-criticism (a) moderate the impact of interpersonal events, (b) influence how individuals behave towards close friends, (c) affect how individuals remember interpersonal interactions with others, and (d) moderate the manner in which individuals actively structure their social environments. Depressive personality styles may contribute to maladaptive environments and depressive processes in complex ways by influencing the types of strategies individuals adopt to deal with threats to interpersonal relatedness and self-definition.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on November 9, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Cleveland State University, 2007. / Abstract. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on May 8, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-39). Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-143).

Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Alberta, 2009. / "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in Counselling Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta." Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on October 8, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1972. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, June, 2003. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-163)

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