Implicit and self-attributed affiliation motive congruence and depression: The moderating role of perfectionism

The current study further explores Langan-Fox, Canty, and Sankey’s (2010) conceptual framework for the moderation of the relationship between implicit and self-attributed motive congruency and psychological well-being. Consistent with this framework, we found evidence for moderation effects in a secondary data analysis of a sample (N = 441) drawn from the Eugene-Springfield Community Sample longitudinal dataset. Firstly, the previously unsubstantiated congruent-absent promotion-hypothesis was supported as low/low affiliation motive congruence was associated with decreased depression at high levels of perfectionism. Second, the previously unreported incongruent overclaiming exacerbation-hypothesis was supported with the negative effects (i.e., high depression) of low/high affiliation motive incongruence being exacerbated at high levels of perfectionism. The findings support and extend the motive congruence moderation framework and suggest ways in which depression can be ameliorated.