Interpersonal Competence Across Domains: Relevance to Personality Pathology Open Access

Abstract

Abstract
Interpersonal Competence Across Domains: Relevance to Personality Pathology
By Anjana Muralidharan
Interpersonal problems are significant markers of personality disorders (PDs), yet there
are few data examining the specific social skills deficits that individuals with PDs exhibit.
There is evidence to suggest that interpersonal problems in PD do not clearly map onto
DSM-IV PD diagnostic categories. This study used canonical correlation analyses to
examine the relationship between interpersonal competence and PDs, first as categorized
by DSM-IV diagnoses, then as categorized by empirically-derived factors, in a sample
(n=135) of euthymic college freshmen with a history of major depressive disorder. In
both analyses, the most significant source of shared variance was social inhibition, or
trouble initiating social interactions. The variates extracted in the first analysis reveal that
individuals with low interpersonal competence endorse more avoidant, schizotypal, and
schizoid PD descriptors (p<0.001). The variates extracted in the second analysis describe
two groups. One represents a group of individuals with generally low interpersonal
competence who are socially inhibited, mistrusting, unable to empathize, and fearful of
abandonment (p<0.001). The other represents individuals who are poor at self-disclosure;
these individuals are suspicious of others and only seek to connect with people for their
own gain, but at the core, they are insecure about their own identity (p=0.005). Training
in initiating social interactions and disclosure of personal information may be important
in the treatment of individuals with PD who experience interpersonal impairment.
Empirically derived categories of PD symptoms may capture interpersonal problems
experienced by individuals with PD which the traditional DSM-IV categories do not.

Table of Contents

Introduction...1

Methods...9

Results...13

Discussion...15

References...25

Table 1: Sample Characteristics- Demographic and Clinical Variables...30

Table 2: Bivariate Correlations- IPDE Dimensional Scores with ICQ Domains...32

Table 3: Bivariate Correlations- IPDE Factor Scores with ICQ Domains...33

Table 4: Canonical Correlations of IPDE Dimensional Scores and ICQ Domains...34

Table 5: Canonical Correlations of IPDE Factor Scores and ICQ Domains...35

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Degree	MA
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Clinical
Keyword	social skills personality disorder
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Craighead, W Edward, Emory University
Committee Members	Barsalou, Lawrence, Emory University Craighead, Linda, Emory University

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