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Kari Eddington

University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Psychology, Faculty Member

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I am an Associate Professor and Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. My work focuses on understanding and improving motivational deficits in depression through research and clinical work.

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Tamara Foxworth

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alison Papadakis

Johns Hopkins University

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Papers by Kari Eddington

Adaptation Phase Goal 1

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 7 addresses the module 1 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy. It describe... more Chapter 7 addresses the module 1 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy. It describes strategies aimed at reducing self-discrepancies, including modifying standards and enhancing the importance of positive qualities or characteristics. Depression typically involves self-discrepancies, and most people with depression can benefit from reducing or eliminating self-discrepancies and bringing self-guides and self-beliefs more in line with each other. One approach is to lower standards (i.e., ought or ideal self-guides) by identifying and modifying unrealistic expectations. Another method is to find a new way to approach the preferred goal rather than lowering the standard. Evaluation of self-discrepancies sometimes shows that the expectations are invalid and that the focus should shift from perceived deficits to strengths.

What were you Thinking? A Comparison of Rater Coding and word Counts for Content Analysis of Thought Samples in Depression

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

The impact of goal adjustment and caregiver burden on psychological distress among caregivers of cancer patients

Psycho-Oncology, 2019

Objectives: Research has demonstrated that serving in the caregiver role is often associated with... more Objectives: Research has demonstrated that serving in the caregiver role is often associated with increased symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety, but some people fare better than others in managing the burden of caregiving. The goal of the present study was to examine the potential moderating role of goal adjustment (the ability to disengage from unattainable goals and reengage in alterative ones) on the relation between caregiver burden and distress in family caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: Caregivers of adult family members diagnosed with cancer in the past 3 years participated (N = 102). Participants were consented and completed online questionnaires on psychological distress, caregiver burden, and goal adjustment. Results: The ability to disengage from unattainable goals was associated with lower anxiety and stress in the face of increasing caregiver burden. By contrast, the ability to reengage in alternative goals was associated with lower depression as burden increased. Conclusions: The present study suggests that goal adjustment may play an important moderating role in the relationship between caregiver burden and distress. Caregivers who are better able to disengage from unattainable goals may experience less stress and anxiety, and caregivers who are better able to reengage in alternative goals experience less depressed mood. This study provides preliminary evidence that learning different ways to approach and adjust goals may reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in family caregivers.

Treatment of Depression From a Self-Regulation Perspective: Basic Concepts and Applied Strategies in Self-System Therapy

Cognitive therapy and research, 2017

Self-regulation models of psychopathology provide a theory-based, empirically supported framework... more Self-regulation models of psychopathology provide a theory-based, empirically supported framework for developing psychotherapeutic interventions that complement and extend current cognitive-behavioral models. However, many clinicians are only minimally familiar with the psychology of self-regulation. The aim of the present manuscript is twofold. First, we provide an overview of self-regulation as a motivational process essential to well-being and introduce two related theories of self-regulation which have been applied to depression. Second, we describe how self-regulatory concepts and processes from those two theories have been translated into psychosocial interventions, focusing specifically on self-system therapy (SST), a brief structured treatment for depression that targets personal goal pursuit. Two randomized controlled trials have shown that SST is superior to cognitive therapy for depressed clients with specific self-regulatory deficits, and both studies found evidence that...

Exploration Phase Goal 2

Self-System Therapy for Depression

Chapter 6 addresses goal 2 of the exploration phase of self-system therapy, which focuses on how ... more Chapter 6 addresses goal 2 of the exploration phase of self-system therapy, which focuses on how clients pursue their goals. Clients assess their self-regulatory style by exploring their self-guides (clients’ own standards and expectations that other people have of them), promotion and prevention goals, and self-beliefs. With a better understanding of the role of self-discrepancies in depression, clients are asked to take a look at the daily influences on their experiences. Clients are helped by therapists to synthesize what they have learned in previous sessions and implement corrective strategies in daily life. The client begins by filling out worksheets that keep track of events in daily life. The worksheets ask the client to think about and write down how these daily events are related to personal goals and standards.

Introduction to This Guide

Self-System Therapy for Depression

Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, and mental health professionals in ... more Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, and mental health professionals in a variety of practice settings have witnessed its debilitating effects. Many pathways can lead to depression, and no single approach to treatment is successful for all clients. Chapter 1 provides an overview of self-system therapy (SST), a treatment approach that targets deficits in self-regulation. Research has shown that SST is as effective overall as cognitive therapy and that it leads to better outcomes for a subset of depressed clients who struggle with self-regulation. Suggestions are given for how the Therapist Guide and Client Workbook should be used for the treatment of depression.

Orientation Phase Goal 3

Self-System Therapy for Depression

People with depression often focus too little on promotion goals (i.e., making good things happen... more People with depression often focus too little on promotion goals (i.e., making good things happen). Pursuing promotion goals is important because they provide opportunities for experiencing positive emotions. The third goal in the orientation phase of self-system therapy is to encourage clients to focus on promotion goals. The therapist completes an assessment of what the client does or does not do during a typical week to determine activities that can reinstate a sense of reward, accomplishment, or progress. Chapter 4 focuses on increasing involvement with activities that can make good things happen. Worksheets are designed to help identify activities that can produce experiences of pleasure and pride and make specific plans to follow through with those activities.

Overview of Self-System Therapy Strategies

Self-System Therapy for Depression

Chapter 4 introduces the core strategies in self-system therapy (SST) and discusses how SST is si... more Chapter 4 introduces the core strategies in self-system therapy (SST) and discusses how SST is similar to and different from other short-term, structured therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, behavioral activation therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. SST focuses on self-regulation as a motivational process and targets how clients go about setting, pursuing, and monitoring important personal goals that are defined in part by discrepancies between self-beliefs and self-guides. SST is a structured clinical intervention based on a self-regulation model of depression and involves three phases of treatment: orientation, exploration, and adaptation. Flexibility within this structure allows therapists to tailor strategies, tactics, and assignments to fit the unique needs of each client.

Orientation Phase (Sessions 1–4)

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 5 provides a session-by-session guide to the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SS... more Chapter 5 provides a session-by-session guide to the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SST). The main goals of orientation are to familiarize the client with the structure and focus of SST and to establish a strong, collaborative working alliance that supports the client’s efforts in identifying and addressing underlying sources of problems in self-regulation. The orientation phase involves educating the client about self-regulation, reinstating goal-directed activities, conducting a self-in-context assessment, and developing a problem formulation. The therapist completes an evaluation of the client’s presenting problems, introduces the idea of self-regulation, and searches for the possible origins of self-guides and standards to develop a formulation of the problems with self-regulation that are most directly associated with the depression. SST emphasizes the breakdown in motivation that characterizes episodes of depression and uses the orientation phase to begin to increas...

Exploration Phase (Sessions 5–8)

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 6 provides a session-by-session guide to the exploration phase of self-system therapy (SS... more Chapter 6 provides a session-by-session guide to the exploration phase of self-system therapy (SST). This phase involves assessing important aspects of the client’s self-regulation, including self-knowledge and regulatory style. The therapist applies two tactics specific to SST. Self-belief analysis is used to examine the content, function, origins, and adaptiveness of the client’s beliefs about herself or himself in relation to others, with an emphasis on goals and standards. Psychological situation analysis is applied to evaluation of the client’s goals and standards in everyday situations to determine his or her typical patterns of self-regulation. The therapist and client then construct a revised problem formulation and a set of specific targets for reducing self-discrepancies and improving the effectiveness of self-regulation.

and Cell Phones for Experience Sampling Research

Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices ... more Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices in experience sampling research. The declining availability of such devices, however, has prompted researchers to explore alternative technologies for signaling participants and collecting responses. The present research considers interactive voice response (IVR) methods, which can deliver questions and collect data using common cell phones. Participants completed an experience sampling study using either a PDA (n 428) or a cell phone under three different conditions (IVR condition n 98; IVR Callback condition n 93; IVR Callback Comeback condition n 94). We found that response rates were higher when people used PDAs (69%) than when they used their cell phones (IVR condition 51%), but response rates increased when people could call back within a fewminutes of missing a signal (IVRCallback condition 58%) andhad a face-to-facemeetingwith a researchermidweek (IVRCallback Comeback 64%). Theda...

Self-reflection, insight, and mood disorder symptoms: Evaluating the short form of the self-reflection and insight scale with clinical interviews and self-reports

Current Psychology, 2022

The 20-item Self-reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) is a widely used measure of individual diffe... more The 20-item Self-reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) is a widely used measure of individual differences in self-focused attention and private self-consciousness. In the present research, we examined the validity of a 12-item short form of the SRIS, which was recently developed based on item response theory models. Measures related to mental health and well-being were used as criteria for evaluating the relative effect sizes for the long and short SRIS. In Study 1 (n = 278 adults), the short and long SRIS scores had highly similar correlations with dimensional measures of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms as well as with neuroticism. In Study 2 (n = 78 adults), participants were classified into major depression and healthy control groups based on structured clinical interviews. The short and long SRIS had similar profiles of differences between the two groups. Taken together, the studies suggest that the short forms effectively recover the effect sizes of the long forms, so the briefer SRIS would be a good option when time and survey space are tight.

Report and Communication Palm or Cell? Comparing Personal Digital Assistants and Cell Phones for

Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices ... more Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices in experience sampling research. The declining availability of such devices, however, has prompted researchers to explore alternative technologies for signaling participants and collecting responses. The present research considers interactive voice response (IVR) methods, which can deliver questions and collect data using common cell phones. Participants completed an experience sampling study using either a PDA (n 428) or a cell phone under three different conditions (IVR condition n 98; IVR Callback condition n 93; IVR Callback Comeback condition n 94). We found that response rates were higher when people used PDAs (69%) than when they used their cell phones (IVR condition 51%), but response rates increased when people could call back within a fewminutes of missing a signal (IVRCallback condition 58%) andhad a face-to-facemeetingwith a researchermidweek (IVRCallback Comeback 64%). Theda...

Theoretical Overview

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 2 introduces the theory underlying self-system therapy (SST). The terminology and concept... more Chapter 2 introduces the theory underlying self-system therapy (SST). The terminology and concepts of SST are clarified for therapists and their clients. Self-regulation is a motivational process involving ongoing comparisons between the actual self (i.e., the person I am) and the ideal self (i.e., the person I want to be) or ought self (i.e., the person I should be). Self-beliefs are characteristics that define the actual self, and self-guides are characteristics that define the ideal and ought selves. SST’s core concepts include self-discrepancy and regulatory focus, and the chapter discusses how those concepts relate to goal pursuit, self-evaluation, characteristic orientations, and depression.

Perfectionism and causal attributions: An experience sampling approach

Journal of Research in Personality, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Adaptation Phase Goal 3

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 9, which addresses the module 3 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy, focu... more Chapter 9, which addresses the module 3 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy, focuses on managing perfectionism. Many people with depression have standards that are unrealistically high, and they become very self-critical and fear rejection when extreme standards cannot be met. Perfectionists often are willing to cut others some slack but may be reluctant to lower their own standards. The therapist works with clients to take a realistic view of perfectionistic goals and standards and explore more moderate alternatives. Because perfectionism can be compartmentalized, the first step is to identify the areas in clients’ lives that are affected. Worksheets are provided to encourage careful consideration of the costs and benefits of holding on to personal standards that may be too high.

Orientation Phase Goal 1

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

During the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SST), the therapist familiarizes the client ... more During the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SST), the therapist familiarizes the client with the structure and focus of SST and establishes a strong, collaborative working alliance that supports the client’s efforts to identify and address underlying sources of problems in self-regulation. The first goal after beginning the program is to learn about self-regulation and how it is related to problems with depression. Self-regulation is the process of setting and pursuing goals that help people become who they want to be. Chapter 2 introduces the concepts of self-regulation and promotion and prevention goals, and it examines how these concepts are connected to emotions. Clients are encouraged to think about why they place importance on certain goals.

Self-report measures of anhedonia and approach motivation weakly correspond to anhedonia and depression assessed via clinical interviews

Personality and Individual Differences, 2021

Self-report scales are popular tools for measuring anhedonic experiences and motivational deficit... more Self-report scales are popular tools for measuring anhedonic experiences and motivational deficits, but how well do they reflect clinically significant anhedonia? Seventy-eight adults participated in face-to-face structured diagnostic interviews: 22 showed clinically significant anhedonia, and 18 met criteria for depression. Analyses of effect sizes comparing the anhedonia and depression groups to their respective controls found large effects, as expected, for measures of depressive symptoms, but surprisingly weak effect sizes (all less than d=.50) for measures of general, social, or physical anhedonia, behavioral activation, and anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. Measures of Neuroticism and Extraversion distinguished the anhedonic and depressed groups from the controls at least as well as measures of anhedonia and motivation. Taken together, the findings suggest that caution is necessary when extending selfreport findings to populations with clinically significant symptoms.

Reward-Seeking Deficits in Major Depression: Unpacking Appetitive Task Performance with Ex-Gaussian Response Time Variability Analysis

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has extensive ties to motivation, including impaired response tim... more Major depressive disorder (MDD) has extensive ties to motivation, including impaired response time (RT) performance. Average RT, however, conflates response speed and variability, so RT differences can be complex. Because recent studies have shown inconsistent effects of MDD on RT variability, the present research sought to unpack RT performance with several key improvements: (1) a sample of adults (n = 78; 18 MDD, 60 Control) free of antidepressant medication; (2) an unambiguously appetitive task with appealing incentives at stake; and (3) ex-Gaussian RT modeling, which can unconfound speed and variability by estimating parameters for the mean (Mu) and standard deviation (Sigma) of the normal component and the mean of the exponential component (Tau). The groups had comparable Mu and Sigma parameters, but the MDD group had a significantly larger Tau, reflecting greater RT variability. The findings suggest that MDD’s effect on average RT can stem from greater intraindividual variabil...

Perfectionism and Loneliness: The Role of Expectations and Social Hopelessness in Daily Life

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2020

Introduction: Research suggests that social disconnection is one pathway that explains why perfec... more Introduction: Research suggests that social disconnection is one pathway that explains why perfectionists have higher negative mental health outcomes. However, thus far research has not examined the role that perfectionists' expectations, about their social world, plays in explaining social disconnection. The current study examined whether negative expectations about future social events and social hopelessness explained the relations between socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP), self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), and social disconnection. Method: The current study used experience sampling methodology (ESM) with 145 participants to test multilevel structural equation models examining whether negative expectations and social hopelessness mediated the relation between SPP (as well as SOP) and loneliness at the following time point. Results: Results indicate that having negative expectations for future social interactions and feeling socially hopeless explains the relation betwe...

Adaptation Phase Goal 1

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 7 addresses the module 1 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy. It describe... more Chapter 7 addresses the module 1 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy. It describes strategies aimed at reducing self-discrepancies, including modifying standards and enhancing the importance of positive qualities or characteristics. Depression typically involves self-discrepancies, and most people with depression can benefit from reducing or eliminating self-discrepancies and bringing self-guides and self-beliefs more in line with each other. One approach is to lower standards (i.e., ought or ideal self-guides) by identifying and modifying unrealistic expectations. Another method is to find a new way to approach the preferred goal rather than lowering the standard. Evaluation of self-discrepancies sometimes shows that the expectations are invalid and that the focus should shift from perceived deficits to strengths.

What were you Thinking? A Comparison of Rater Coding and word Counts for Content Analysis of Thought Samples in Depression

Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

The impact of goal adjustment and caregiver burden on psychological distress among caregivers of cancer patients

Psycho-Oncology, 2019

Objectives: Research has demonstrated that serving in the caregiver role is often associated with... more Objectives: Research has demonstrated that serving in the caregiver role is often associated with increased symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety, but some people fare better than others in managing the burden of caregiving. The goal of the present study was to examine the potential moderating role of goal adjustment (the ability to disengage from unattainable goals and reengage in alterative ones) on the relation between caregiver burden and distress in family caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: Caregivers of adult family members diagnosed with cancer in the past 3 years participated (N = 102). Participants were consented and completed online questionnaires on psychological distress, caregiver burden, and goal adjustment. Results: The ability to disengage from unattainable goals was associated with lower anxiety and stress in the face of increasing caregiver burden. By contrast, the ability to reengage in alternative goals was associated with lower depression as burden increased. Conclusions: The present study suggests that goal adjustment may play an important moderating role in the relationship between caregiver burden and distress. Caregivers who are better able to disengage from unattainable goals may experience less stress and anxiety, and caregivers who are better able to reengage in alternative goals experience less depressed mood. This study provides preliminary evidence that learning different ways to approach and adjust goals may reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in family caregivers.

Treatment of Depression From a Self-Regulation Perspective: Basic Concepts and Applied Strategies in Self-System Therapy

Cognitive therapy and research, 2017

Self-regulation models of psychopathology provide a theory-based, empirically supported framework... more Self-regulation models of psychopathology provide a theory-based, empirically supported framework for developing psychotherapeutic interventions that complement and extend current cognitive-behavioral models. However, many clinicians are only minimally familiar with the psychology of self-regulation. The aim of the present manuscript is twofold. First, we provide an overview of self-regulation as a motivational process essential to well-being and introduce two related theories of self-regulation which have been applied to depression. Second, we describe how self-regulatory concepts and processes from those two theories have been translated into psychosocial interventions, focusing specifically on self-system therapy (SST), a brief structured treatment for depression that targets personal goal pursuit. Two randomized controlled trials have shown that SST is superior to cognitive therapy for depressed clients with specific self-regulatory deficits, and both studies found evidence that...

Exploration Phase Goal 2

Self-System Therapy for Depression

Chapter 6 addresses goal 2 of the exploration phase of self-system therapy, which focuses on how ... more Chapter 6 addresses goal 2 of the exploration phase of self-system therapy, which focuses on how clients pursue their goals. Clients assess their self-regulatory style by exploring their self-guides (clients’ own standards and expectations that other people have of them), promotion and prevention goals, and self-beliefs. With a better understanding of the role of self-discrepancies in depression, clients are asked to take a look at the daily influences on their experiences. Clients are helped by therapists to synthesize what they have learned in previous sessions and implement corrective strategies in daily life. The client begins by filling out worksheets that keep track of events in daily life. The worksheets ask the client to think about and write down how these daily events are related to personal goals and standards.

Introduction to This Guide

Self-System Therapy for Depression

Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, and mental health professionals in ... more Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, and mental health professionals in a variety of practice settings have witnessed its debilitating effects. Many pathways can lead to depression, and no single approach to treatment is successful for all clients. Chapter 1 provides an overview of self-system therapy (SST), a treatment approach that targets deficits in self-regulation. Research has shown that SST is as effective overall as cognitive therapy and that it leads to better outcomes for a subset of depressed clients who struggle with self-regulation. Suggestions are given for how the Therapist Guide and Client Workbook should be used for the treatment of depression.

Orientation Phase Goal 3

Self-System Therapy for Depression

People with depression often focus too little on promotion goals (i.e., making good things happen... more People with depression often focus too little on promotion goals (i.e., making good things happen). Pursuing promotion goals is important because they provide opportunities for experiencing positive emotions. The third goal in the orientation phase of self-system therapy is to encourage clients to focus on promotion goals. The therapist completes an assessment of what the client does or does not do during a typical week to determine activities that can reinstate a sense of reward, accomplishment, or progress. Chapter 4 focuses on increasing involvement with activities that can make good things happen. Worksheets are designed to help identify activities that can produce experiences of pleasure and pride and make specific plans to follow through with those activities.

Overview of Self-System Therapy Strategies

Self-System Therapy for Depression

Chapter 4 introduces the core strategies in self-system therapy (SST) and discusses how SST is si... more Chapter 4 introduces the core strategies in self-system therapy (SST) and discusses how SST is similar to and different from other short-term, structured therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, behavioral activation therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. SST focuses on self-regulation as a motivational process and targets how clients go about setting, pursuing, and monitoring important personal goals that are defined in part by discrepancies between self-beliefs and self-guides. SST is a structured clinical intervention based on a self-regulation model of depression and involves three phases of treatment: orientation, exploration, and adaptation. Flexibility within this structure allows therapists to tailor strategies, tactics, and assignments to fit the unique needs of each client.

Orientation Phase (Sessions 1–4)

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 5 provides a session-by-session guide to the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SS... more Chapter 5 provides a session-by-session guide to the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SST). The main goals of orientation are to familiarize the client with the structure and focus of SST and to establish a strong, collaborative working alliance that supports the client’s efforts in identifying and addressing underlying sources of problems in self-regulation. The orientation phase involves educating the client about self-regulation, reinstating goal-directed activities, conducting a self-in-context assessment, and developing a problem formulation. The therapist completes an evaluation of the client’s presenting problems, introduces the idea of self-regulation, and searches for the possible origins of self-guides and standards to develop a formulation of the problems with self-regulation that are most directly associated with the depression. SST emphasizes the breakdown in motivation that characterizes episodes of depression and uses the orientation phase to begin to increas...

Exploration Phase (Sessions 5–8)

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 6 provides a session-by-session guide to the exploration phase of self-system therapy (SS... more Chapter 6 provides a session-by-session guide to the exploration phase of self-system therapy (SST). This phase involves assessing important aspects of the client’s self-regulation, including self-knowledge and regulatory style. The therapist applies two tactics specific to SST. Self-belief analysis is used to examine the content, function, origins, and adaptiveness of the client’s beliefs about herself or himself in relation to others, with an emphasis on goals and standards. Psychological situation analysis is applied to evaluation of the client’s goals and standards in everyday situations to determine his or her typical patterns of self-regulation. The therapist and client then construct a revised problem formulation and a set of specific targets for reducing self-discrepancies and improving the effectiveness of self-regulation.

and Cell Phones for Experience Sampling Research

Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices ... more Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices in experience sampling research. The declining availability of such devices, however, has prompted researchers to explore alternative technologies for signaling participants and collecting responses. The present research considers interactive voice response (IVR) methods, which can deliver questions and collect data using common cell phones. Participants completed an experience sampling study using either a PDA (n 428) or a cell phone under three different conditions (IVR condition n 98; IVR Callback condition n 93; IVR Callback Comeback condition n 94). We found that response rates were higher when people used PDAs (69%) than when they used their cell phones (IVR condition 51%), but response rates increased when people could call back within a fewminutes of missing a signal (IVRCallback condition 58%) andhad a face-to-facemeetingwith a researchermidweek (IVRCallback Comeback 64%). Theda...

Self-reflection, insight, and mood disorder symptoms: Evaluating the short form of the self-reflection and insight scale with clinical interviews and self-reports

Current Psychology, 2022

The 20-item Self-reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) is a widely used measure of individual diffe... more The 20-item Self-reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) is a widely used measure of individual differences in self-focused attention and private self-consciousness. In the present research, we examined the validity of a 12-item short form of the SRIS, which was recently developed based on item response theory models. Measures related to mental health and well-being were used as criteria for evaluating the relative effect sizes for the long and short SRIS. In Study 1 (n = 278 adults), the short and long SRIS scores had highly similar correlations with dimensional measures of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms as well as with neuroticism. In Study 2 (n = 78 adults), participants were classified into major depression and healthy control groups based on structured clinical interviews. The short and long SRIS had similar profiles of differences between the two groups. Taken together, the studies suggest that the short forms effectively recover the effect sizes of the long forms, so the briefer SRIS would be a good option when time and survey space are tight.

Report and Communication Palm or Cell? Comparing Personal Digital Assistants and Cell Phones for

Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices ... more Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices in experience sampling research. The declining availability of such devices, however, has prompted researchers to explore alternative technologies for signaling participants and collecting responses. The present research considers interactive voice response (IVR) methods, which can deliver questions and collect data using common cell phones. Participants completed an experience sampling study using either a PDA (n 428) or a cell phone under three different conditions (IVR condition n 98; IVR Callback condition n 93; IVR Callback Comeback condition n 94). We found that response rates were higher when people used PDAs (69%) than when they used their cell phones (IVR condition 51%), but response rates increased when people could call back within a fewminutes of missing a signal (IVRCallback condition 58%) andhad a face-to-facemeetingwith a researchermidweek (IVRCallback Comeback 64%). Theda...

Theoretical Overview

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 2 introduces the theory underlying self-system therapy (SST). The terminology and concept... more Chapter 2 introduces the theory underlying self-system therapy (SST). The terminology and concepts of SST are clarified for therapists and their clients. Self-regulation is a motivational process involving ongoing comparisons between the actual self (i.e., the person I am) and the ideal self (i.e., the person I want to be) or ought self (i.e., the person I should be). Self-beliefs are characteristics that define the actual self, and self-guides are characteristics that define the ideal and ought selves. SST’s core concepts include self-discrepancy and regulatory focus, and the chapter discusses how those concepts relate to goal pursuit, self-evaluation, characteristic orientations, and depression.

Perfectionism and causal attributions: An experience sampling approach

Journal of Research in Personality, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Adaptation Phase Goal 3

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

Chapter 9, which addresses the module 3 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy, focu... more Chapter 9, which addresses the module 3 goal of the adaptation phase of self-system therapy, focuses on managing perfectionism. Many people with depression have standards that are unrealistically high, and they become very self-critical and fear rejection when extreme standards cannot be met. Perfectionists often are willing to cut others some slack but may be reluctant to lower their own standards. The therapist works with clients to take a realistic view of perfectionistic goals and standards and explore more moderate alternatives. Because perfectionism can be compartmentalized, the first step is to identify the areas in clients’ lives that are affected. Worksheets are provided to encourage careful consideration of the costs and benefits of holding on to personal standards that may be too high.

Orientation Phase Goal 1

Self-System Therapy for Depression, 2017

During the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SST), the therapist familiarizes the client ... more During the orientation phase of self-system therapy (SST), the therapist familiarizes the client with the structure and focus of SST and establishes a strong, collaborative working alliance that supports the client’s efforts to identify and address underlying sources of problems in self-regulation. The first goal after beginning the program is to learn about self-regulation and how it is related to problems with depression. Self-regulation is the process of setting and pursuing goals that help people become who they want to be. Chapter 2 introduces the concepts of self-regulation and promotion and prevention goals, and it examines how these concepts are connected to emotions. Clients are encouraged to think about why they place importance on certain goals.

Self-report measures of anhedonia and approach motivation weakly correspond to anhedonia and depression assessed via clinical interviews

Personality and Individual Differences, 2021

Self-report scales are popular tools for measuring anhedonic experiences and motivational deficit... more Self-report scales are popular tools for measuring anhedonic experiences and motivational deficits, but how well do they reflect clinically significant anhedonia? Seventy-eight adults participated in face-to-face structured diagnostic interviews: 22 showed clinically significant anhedonia, and 18 met criteria for depression. Analyses of effect sizes comparing the anhedonia and depression groups to their respective controls found large effects, as expected, for measures of depressive symptoms, but surprisingly weak effect sizes (all less than d=.50) for measures of general, social, or physical anhedonia, behavioral activation, and anticipatory and consummatory pleasure. Measures of Neuroticism and Extraversion distinguished the anhedonic and depressed groups from the controls at least as well as measures of anhedonia and motivation. Taken together, the findings suggest that caution is necessary when extending selfreport findings to populations with clinically significant symptoms.

Reward-Seeking Deficits in Major Depression: Unpacking Appetitive Task Performance with Ex-Gaussian Response Time Variability Analysis

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has extensive ties to motivation, including impaired response tim... more Major depressive disorder (MDD) has extensive ties to motivation, including impaired response time (RT) performance. Average RT, however, conflates response speed and variability, so RT differences can be complex. Because recent studies have shown inconsistent effects of MDD on RT variability, the present research sought to unpack RT performance with several key improvements: (1) a sample of adults (n = 78; 18 MDD, 60 Control) free of antidepressant medication; (2) an unambiguously appetitive task with appealing incentives at stake; and (3) ex-Gaussian RT modeling, which can unconfound speed and variability by estimating parameters for the mean (Mu) and standard deviation (Sigma) of the normal component and the mean of the exponential component (Tau). The groups had comparable Mu and Sigma parameters, but the MDD group had a significantly larger Tau, reflecting greater RT variability. The findings suggest that MDD’s effect on average RT can stem from greater intraindividual variabil...

Perfectionism and Loneliness: The Role of Expectations and Social Hopelessness in Daily Life

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2020

Introduction: Research suggests that social disconnection is one pathway that explains why perfec... more Introduction: Research suggests that social disconnection is one pathway that explains why perfectionists have higher negative mental health outcomes. However, thus far research has not examined the role that perfectionists' expectations, about their social world, plays in explaining social disconnection. The current study examined whether negative expectations about future social events and social hopelessness explained the relations between socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP), self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), and social disconnection. Method: The current study used experience sampling methodology (ESM) with 145 participants to test multilevel structural equation models examining whether negative expectations and social hopelessness mediated the relation between SPP (as well as SOP) and loneliness at the following time point. Results: Results indicate that having negative expectations for future social interactions and feeling socially hopeless explains the relation betwe...