THE INTERACTIONAL THEORY OF DEPRESSION - A METAANALYSIS OF THE RESEARCH LITERATURE

Coyne's (1976a) interactional theory of depression states that depressed people induce a negative mood in others through social interaction and hence elicit rejection from them. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between (1) depression and negative mood in others, (2) depression and rejection by others, and (3) negative mood and rejection by others. The results indicate strong support for the rejection component of the theory, but rather modest support for the negative mood induction hypothesis. Negative mood seems to show a curvilinear (inverted-U) relationship with depression. In addition, both negative mood induction and interpersonal rejection appear to be moderated by a number of substantive and methodological variables, including partner type (confederate/nonconfederate), partner relationship (friend/stranger), and the modality in which the interaction takes place (face-to-face, tape, transcript, or telephone).