The Role of Stress, Sociotropy and Autonomy in Depression

Beck (1983) claimed that personality style of sociotropy and autonomy ia a vulnerable factor for depression that interacts with stress congruent with the same personality style. This study investigates the role of stress, sociotropy and autonomy in depression in a retrospective and case – control design. 156 major depressed patients were compared with 78 never depressed and normal people based on sex, age, life events, sociotropy and autonomy, congruent stresses. Results showed that depressed patients experienced significantly more stresses than normals. Also, sociotrop and autonomous patients had experienced significantly different stresses that were congruent with their personality style. Results supported the role of stress in depression and congruency hypothesis that Beck asserted.