Everyday ostracism experiences of depressed individuals: Uncovering the role of attributions using experience sampling

Background

Depression is linked to more frequent experiences of ostracism (being excluded and ignored). Here, we examine attributions of everyday ostracism that may play an important role in individuals’ experience of and reactions to ostracism. Based on interpersonal and attribution theories of depression, we hypothesize that internal (compared to external) attributions of ostracism and attributions to being burdensome are particularly frequent among depressed individuals.

Methods

We use an experience sampling approach including retrospective reports of ostracism (N = 490) and event-contingent reports of ostracism (n = 323, k = 1107 experiences in 14 days) to analyze the frequency of everyday ostracism experiences, subsequent need threat, and attributions of ostracism by depressed individuals (i.e., individuals with stronger current depressive symptoms and those who had been diagnosed with depression before).

Results

Depressed individuals report more frequent retrospective ostracism, and more frequent everyday ostracism, as well as higher need threat following everyday ostracism. Depressed individuals do not attribute ostracism more internally, but they attribute being ostracized more frequently to being burdensome, as well as to hostile intent of the ostracizer(s).

Limitations

This research used a non-clinical sample and self-reports of current depressive symptoms and previous diagnoses of depression. Future research in patient populations and longitudinal designs will fruitfully complement the present findings.

Conclusions

Maladaptive attributions of everyday ostracism may perpetuate the cycle between ostracism experiences and depression. This warrants attention from clinical practitioners, specifically in interventions against cognitive biases in depression.