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Interpersonal dysfunction in individuals high in chronic worry: relations with interpersonal problem-solving

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2021

Bailee L. Malivoire Open the ORCID record for Bailee L. Malivoire [Opens in a new window]  and
Naomi Koerner Open the ORCID record for Naomi Koerner [Opens in a new window]
Bailee L. Malivoire
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
Naomi Koerner*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
*
*Corresponding author. Email: naomi.koerner@ryerson.ca
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Abstract

Background:

Interpersonal dysfunction has been proposed as an important maintenance factor in chronic worry and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Perceptions of problems and the problem-solving process as threatening, and unhelpful (e.g. avoidant, impulsive) problem-solving styles are implicated in worry and have also been suggested to be associated with dysfunctional interpersonal styles.

Aims:

The present study assessed the relationships between interpersonal dysfunction and problem-solving orientation, approach, and effectiveness in a sample of individuals high in chronic worry and investigated the indirect effect of interpersonal dysfunction on GAD symptom severity through negative problem-solving beliefs and approaches.

Method:

Fifty-nine community participants completed questionnaires and an interpersonal problem-solving task.

Results:

Greater interpersonal dysfunction was significantly associated with greater negative problem-solving orientation and greater habitual avoidant and impulsive/careless problem-solving styles. Greater interpersonal dysfunction was associated with poorer effectiveness of solutions when the task problem involved conflict with a romantic partner. Negative problem-solving orientation fully mediated the relationship between interpersonal dysfunction and GAD symptoms.

Conclusions:

These findings support that problem-solving processes are implicated in interpersonal dysfunction and that negative beliefs about problem-solving account for the relationship between interpersonal dysfunction and GAD symptoms. Theoretical implications are discussed.

Keywords

interpersonal dysfunctioninterpersonal problemsproblem-solvingworry
Type
Main
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , March 2022 , pp. 142 - 157
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies

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