The comparison of cognitive dissonance and social exchange styles in depressive disorder patients with healthy individuals

Using an inefficient styles of social exchange and cognitive dissonance could lead to negative emotions.

The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive dissonance and social exchange styles, amongst two groups of women patients with major depressive disorder and normal individuals.

In this causal-comparative study, first, 60 women patients with Major Depressive disorder from 3 psychotherapy centers in Tehran were selected by available sampling method. Then, 60 women who attended in different areas of the city, were selected randomly, so that 120 women, were assessed. Questionnaires of cognitive dissonance and social exchange styles were applied in order to collect data. Data analysis was performed by Kolmogorov- Smirnov,  (KS-test) and the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test , using SPSS-PC (v.20).

The results indicated that individuals with depression are more likely to be in cognitive arousal state (P<0.05). While normal individuals were more able to reduce their cognitive dissonance. Equally, in social exchange styles there was a meaningful difference in Mean (average) of individualism and tracking in the two groups. But there was not a meaningful difference between Mean (average) of the fairness, benefit-seeking, individualism, tracking and overinvestment variables.

According to the results of this study, in treatment of depressed women, pay attention to arousal and Cognitive dissonance-reducing is needed.