DEPENDENCY AND SELF-CRITICISM LOCATED WITHIN THE 5-FACTOR MODEL OF PERSONALITY

The Dependency and Self-Criticism scales of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) were studied in relation to the factors and facets of the NEO Personality Inventory. Regression models involving the five factors as predictors of the DEQ showed that Dependency is positively predicted by Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness and negatively predicted by Openness to Experience. Self-Criticism is positively predicted by Neuroticism, and negatively predicted by Extraversion. These relationships held controlling for sex and levels of depression. Regressions involving the facets of Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness provided discriminant validity for the DEQ constructs. Mood ratings corroborated the findings of the Neuroticism facets of the NEO-PI and suggested that Self-Criticism is intimately linked to depression while Dependency may be more closely related to anxiety.