NEGATIVE FEEDBACK SEEKING AND EXCESSIVE REASSURANCE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AND DEPRESSION: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Negative feedback seeking and excessive reassurance seeking behaviors in interpersonal relationships have been shown to frequently occur in conjunction with levels of depression. Method: We used meta-analysis to examine 102 studies (134 effects), relating depression with negative feedback seeking (k = 31) and/or excessive reassurance seeking (k = 103). Results: Depression had positive, moderate effect sizes with both negative feedback seeking (r = .26, 95% CI [.21, .32], p < .001, k = 31) and excessive reassurance seeking (r = .33, 95% CI [.31, .36] p < .001, k = 103). Subgroup analysis revealed the effect size for negative feedback seeking was smaller in romantic relationships compared to other relationship types. Effect sizes for excessive reassurance seeking did not differ for romantic and other relationships but were smaller in romantic relationships of a longer duration. Participant gender and symptom severity did not moderate effect sizes. Studies with child and adolescent samples had larger effects for negative feedback seeking and smaller effects for excessive reassurance seeking, relative to adult samples. Discussion: Longer closer relationships may protect against maladaptive interpersonal behaviors in individuals with depression.