An investigation of vulnerability factors for depression

- Significant positive correlations between depression and most variables assessed
- Significant negative correlation between depression and other-oriented perfectionism
- Anxiety as the strongest predictor of depression at the global and factors levels
- Poor acceptance of past events added significantly to the prediction of depression.
- Experience of bodily shame added significantly to the prediction of depression.

Previous studies have found that difficulty accepting the past mediates the predictive relationship between depression and socially prescribed perfectionism. This relationship inspired the present study to examine relations between a variety of personality traits - shame, anxiety, perfectionism and difficulty accepting the past - which pose as vulnerability factors for depressive symptoms. A single multi-faceted questionnaire was administered to 163 university students and 119 general public participants. Supporting predictions, socially prescribed perfectionism yielded a weaker relationship with depression than did anxiety, shame, and accepting the past.