Are feelings of not mattering an antecedent of depressive symptoms, a consequence, or both? Most investigations focus exclusively on feelings of not mattering as an antecedent of depressive symptoms. Our current study examines a vulnerability model, a complication model, and a reciprocal relations model according to a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM). A sample of 197 community adults completed the General Mattering Scale (GMS), the Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS), and a depression measure at three time points (i.e., baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks). GMS and AMS scores were associated robustly with depressive symptoms at each time point. Other results highlighted the need to distinguish levels of anti-mattering and mattering. CLPM analyses supported a reciprocal relations model of anti-mattering (assessed by the AMS) and depressive symptoms and a complication model linking mattering (assessed by the GMS) and depressive symptoms. The RI-CLPM analyses provided tentative support only for a complication model of anti-mattering and depressive symptoms. Our findings highlight the differences between measures of the mattering construct and the need to adopt a temporal perspective that considers key nuances and the interplay among feelings of mattering, feelings of not mattering, and depression.

无关紧要的感觉是抑郁症状的前因、后果还是两者兼而有之？大多数调查只关注作为抑郁症状前因的无关紧要的感觉。我们当前的研究根据交叉滞后面板模型 (CLPM) 和随机截距交叉滞后面板模型 (RI-CLPM) 检查漏洞模型、并发症模型和互惠关系模型。197 名社区成年人的样本在三个时间点（即基线、3 周和 6 周）完成了一般物质量表 (GMS)、反物质量表 (AMS) 和抑郁量表。GMS 和 AMS 评分与每个时间点的抑郁症状密切相关。其他结果强调需要区分反物质和物质的水平。CLPM 分析支持反物质（由 AMS 评估）和抑郁症状的相互关系模型以及将物质（由 GMS 评估）和抑郁症状联系起来的并发症模型。RI-CLPM 分析仅为反物质和抑郁症状的并发症模型提供了初步支持。我们的研究结果强调了重要结构的测量之间的差异，以及需要采用时间视角来考虑关键的细微差别以及重要的感觉、不重要的感觉和抑郁之间的相互作用。