The Causal Relationship of types of Self-absorption and Maladaptive Perfectionism with Depression through the Mediating Role of Self-criticism in University Students

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders that various emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological factors contribute to it. Self-criticism, maladaptive perfectionism and self-absorption (private and public) are some of the cognitive factors that play a role in depression. The purpose of this study was to examine suggested pattern of the causal relationship of types of self-absorption and maladaptive perfectionism with depression through the mediating role of self-criticism. A group of 236 students of Shahid Chamran University (SCU) was selected by multi-stage random sampling and completed the Self-absorption Scale, maladaptive Perfectionism Subscale, Beck’s Depression Inventory and the levels of Self-criticism Scale. The results showed that all direct relationship between variables were statistically significant. On the other hand, the non-direct relationship of maladaptive perfectionism, public self-absorption and private self-absorption with depression through the mediating role of self-criticism were statistically significant. It seems that The causal relationship of types of self-absorption and maladaptive perfectionism with depression through the mediating role of self-criticism in students can be explained and types of self-absorption, maladaptive perfectionism and self-criticism can be considered as predictors of depression.