The dark side of competition: How competitive behaviour and striving to avoid inferiority are linked to depression, anxiety, stress and self-harm.
Abstract
This study was guided by the social rank theory of depression and aimed to explore the relationship between depression, anxiety, stress and self‐harm with striving to avoid inferiority, feelings of shame and styles of attachment. Participants diagnosed with depression (n=62) completed a series of questionnaires measuring striving to avoid inferiority, fears of missing out, being overlooked and active rejection, attachment, social rank and psychopathologies. Striving to avoid inferiority was significantly linked to social rank variables and anxious attachment. Mediator analyses revealed that the relationship between striving to avoid inferiority and depression was mediated by the social rank variable of external shame, and also anxious attachment. These findings suggest that elevated competitive behaviour can have a ‘dark side’. When people feel insecure in their social environments, it can focus them on a hierarchical view of themselves and others, with a fear of rejection if they feel they have become too inferior or subordinate. This may increase vulnerability to depression, anxiety and stress.Citation
Gilbert, P. et al (2009) 'The dark side of competition: How competitive behaviour and striving to avoid inferiority are linked to depression, anxiety, stress and self-harm', Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 82 (2):123.Publisher
British Psychological SocietyJournal
Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and PracticeDOI
10.1348/147608308X379806Additional Links
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1348/147608308X379806Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
14760835ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1348/147608308X379806
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