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Personality factors in dysphoria: A psychometric refinement of beck's Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale

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Abstract

The Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale (SAS) was developed as a means of assessing two cognitive-personality constructs postulated as vulnerability factors in depression (Beck, 1983). While studies have confirmed the validity of the SAS Sociotropy Scale, the construct validity of the Autonomy Scale has not been well supported. The present study was conducted to improve on the measurement of autonomy by generating additional items which were added to the original questionnaire. This 93-item SAS was administered to 485 undergraduates along with the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, PRF Affiliation and Autonomy Scales, Positive and Negative Emotionality Measures, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Four factors labeled Sociotropy, Solitude/Interpersonal Insensitivity, Independence, and Individualistic Achievement emerged from a principal-factor analysis of the SAS item pool. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that positive emotionality and solitude/interpersonal insensitivity were specifically related to dysphoria, while negative emotionality and sociotropy had significant associations with both anxious and depressed mood states.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Bag Service 45444, E3B 6E4, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    David A. Clark

  2. Center for Cognitive Therapy, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Aaron T. Beck

Authors
  1. David A. Clark
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  2. Aaron T. Beck
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Additional information

This research was supported by University of New Brunswick Research Grant 22–51 awarded to the first author.

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Clark, D.A., Beck, A.T. Personality factors in dysphoria: A psychometric refinement of beck's Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 13, 369–388 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00960448

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00960448

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