The Relationship Among Major Depression, Depressive Symptoms, and Self-Preoccupation

The present study investigates whether highly self-preoccupied people are more likely to experience major depressive episodes than those without such tendencies. Self-preoccupation of 119 young people, aged 18 to 21, was measured by the Self-Preoccupation Scale (SPS). The lowest and highest quarters in the SPS scores formed the low- and high-self-preoccupation (SP) groups. The contributory role of self-preoccupation to suicide ideation and the interpersonal aspects of self-preoccupation are discussed. (44 refs)