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Self-discrepancies in the Social Role of Mother: Associations between Self-discrepancies and Negative Affect
Nicole J. Holmberg, Laura D. Pittman, Emily E. Stewart, Micah Ioffe
Northern Illinois University
Background
Results
Study 2 Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analyses Predicting Dejection
from Ideal Self-Discrepancies
 Self-discrepancy theory (SDT) predicts that differences between individuals’ perceived
actual selves and the way they ideally would like to be (i.e., ideal discrepancies) are
associated with depression, whereas differences between their actual selves and the way
they think they should be (i.e., ought discrepancies) are associated with anxiety (Higgins,
1987).
 Relevant literature has largely examined self-discrepancies from a global, “self-as-person”
perspective. Applying SDT to social roles may facilitate greater understanding of selfevaluation in more specific contexts, such as that of “mother.”
 The social role of mother may be especially relevant, as 10% of American mothers reported
experiencing major depression in the past year, and 43% of those mothers also had an
anxiety disorder (Ertel, Rich-Edwards, & Koenen, 2011). Maternal depression has wideranging negative associations with marital relationship quality, parenting behaviors, and
child outcomes (Burke, 2003). Subclinical maternal depression also has similarly negative
associations with parenting behavior and child outcomes (e.g., Downy & Coyne, 1990).
 Therefore, investigating whether SDT can be applied to the role of mother is a worthwhile
empirical pursuit, as it may have significant clinical implications related to the development
of symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Descriptives and Correlations
Study 1
Study 2
Mean (SD) Mean (SD)
Ideal
1.84 (1.25)
1.92 (1.09)
Ought
1.09 (1.07)
1.08 (1.12)
Dejection 0.75 (0.37)
1.23 (0.41)
Agitation 0.65 (0.34)
1.04 (0.33)
Ideal
1.00
.54***
.22**
-.03
Participants and Procedure
 Data for both studies was collected via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, and participants were
compensated $0.50.
 Study 1 unsuccessfully attempted to manipulate the accessibility of the motherhood
construct, and Study 2 unsuccessfully attempted to manipulate the accessibility of specific
self-discrepancies (i.e., either ideal discrepancies or ought discrepancies). Details are
available from the first author.
 Study 1 N = 97. Participants had a mean age of 34.13 years (SD = 7.88), were mostly White
(77%), and married (68%). Most were college educated (58% associate’s degree or higher).
The modal reported household income was $51,000-$70,000. Most participants indicated
that they did not have a history (60%) of or current diagnosis (76%) of a depressive or
anxiety disorder. Participants had an average of 1.84 children (SD = 1.12) with an average
age of 7.95 years (SD = 5.16).
 Study 2 N = 147. Participants had mean age of 34.74 years (SD = 7.20), were mostly White
(74%), and married (66%). Most were college educated (associate’s degree or higher, 61%).
The modal reported household income was $31,000-$50,000. Most indicated that they did
not have a history (68%) of or current diagnosis (79%) of a depressive or anxiety disorder.
Participants had an average of 1.78 children (SD = 1.10) with an average age of 7.42 years
(SD = 4.97).
Measures
 Self-discrepancy measurement combined two published methods (Hardin & Lakin, 2009;
Stevens et al., 2014). First, participants supplied idiographic traits that described their ideal
and ought selves. They then rated the degree of consistency between their actual selves and
their ideal and ought selves. The difference between their actual selves and ideal or ought
selves reflected the magnitude of their self-discrepancies.
 Affect was assessed by participants’ ratings of the degree to which they felt emotions
related to dejection (e.g., sad, disappointed, blue, discouraged, low, happy [reverse coded],
enthusiastic [reverse coded], satisfied [reverse coded]) and agitation (e.g., quiet, afraid,
agitated, desperate, tense, nervous, calm [reverse coded]; Higgins et al., 1986).
Analyses
 Preliminary analyses were conducted to survey the data and identify control variables.
 Hierarchical multiple regressions were run in both studies controlling for the alternate self-
discrepancy and affect type.
 Romantic relationship status was controlled for in Study 1 and maternal age, number of
children, child age, maternal education level and romantic relationship status were
controlled for in Study 2.
Agitation
.23*
.24*
.76***
1.00
Predictor
∆R2
Step 1
0.37***
Constant
Relationship Status
Maternal Age
Education Level (Comparison
Group = Bachelor’s Degree)
High School
Some College
Number of Children
Mean Child Age
Agitation
Ought SD
Step 2
0.02*
Ideal SD
Total R2
0.38
Total F
8.80***
Note. Means and standard deviations reflect values for total study sample.
* p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p <.001.
 Study 1 correlations are presented above the diagonal and Study 2 correlations are presented
below. In Study 1, both types of discrepancies were positively correlated with both types of affect,
but ideal discrepancies were more strongly associated with dejection. In Study 2, the only
significant affect-discrepancy correlation was between ideal discrepancies and dejection.
Study 1 Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analyses Predicting Dejection
from Ideal Self-Discrepancies
Unstandardized
Coefficients
B
Std. Error
 Two studies were conducted to test whether self-discrepancies from the “self-as-mother”
perspective predicted dejected and agitated affect. While these studies unsuccessfully
attempted to manipulate accessibility to the motherhood construct (Study 1) and
accessibility to specific self-discrepancies (Study 2), this poster focuses on whether selfdiscrepancies from the self-as-mother perspective are associated with dejected and
agitated affect.
Correlations
Ought
Dejection
.56***
.37***
1.00
.26*
.16
1.00
-.09
.56***
Standardized
Coefficients
β
Predictor
∆R2
∆F
Step 1
0.59***
44.58***
Constant
0.21*
0.09
-Romantic Relationship
-0.01
0.07
-0.01
Status
Agitation
0.81***
0.08
0.75
Ought SD
0.02
0.02
0.06
Step 2
0.04**
9.67**
Ideal SD
0.07**
0.02
0.25
Total R2
0.63
Total F
39.00***
Note. Self-discrepancy is abbreviated as SD. Romantic relationship status groups were
coded as 0 = single/dating/divorced and 1= married/cohabitating.
* p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001.
∆R2
0.61***
0.01
∆F
47.61***
0.09
0.07
--0.14
0.72***
-0.03
0.07
0.02
0.77
-0.10
Predictor
∆R2
Step 1
0.42***
Constant
Relationship Status
Maternal Age
Education Level (Comparison
Group = Bachelor’s Degree)
High School
Some College
Number of Children
Mean Child Age
Ideal SD
Dejection
Step 2
0.01
Ought SD
Total R2
0.43
Total F
10.52***
2.66
0.04
0.03
-0.03
0.18
0.06
0.10
0.03
0.01
0.09
0.03
-0.06
0.03
-0.03
-0.25
0.59
0.19
0.03
0.17
4.00*
0.05*
Study 2 Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analyses Predicting Agitation
from Ought Self-Discrepancies
Standardized
Coefficients
β
0.27**
-0.13
-0.05
0.04
-0.01
-0.02*
0.73***
0.07**
0.23
0.08
0.01
 Study 2 results showed that ideal discrepancies predicted dejection when controlling
for ought discrepancies and agitation.
Study 1 Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analyses Predicting Agitation
from Ought Self-Discrepancies
Predictor
Step 1
Constant
Romantic Relationship
Status
Dejection
Ideal SD
Step 2
Ought SD
Total R2
Total F
0.22
0.04
0.01
Standardized
Coefficients
β
Note. Self-discrepancy is abbreviated as SD. Romantic relationship status groups were coded as 0
= single/dating/divorced and 1= married/cohabitating.
* p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001.
 Study 1 results showed that ideal discrepancies predicted dejection when
controlling for ought discrepancies and agitation.
Unstandardized
Coefficients
B
Std. Error
∆F
9.19***
Unstandardized
Coefficients
B
Std. Error
0.13
0.62
37.02***
∆F
11.35***
Unstandardized
Coefficients
B
Std. Error
Standardized
Coefficients
β
0.97***
-0.18**
-0.01*
0.16
0.06
0.01
--0.21
-0.23
0.08
-0.09
-0.00
0.01
-0.04*
0.45***
0.05
0.08
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.06
0.12
-0.09
-0.01
0.18
-0.16
0.55
-0.04
0.02
-0.13
2.69
Note. Self-discrepancy is abbreviated as SD. Romantic relationship status groups were coded as 0
= single/dating/divorced and 1= married/cohabitating.
* p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001.
Note. Self-discrepancy is abbreviated as SD. Romantic relationship status groups were coded
as 0 = single/dating/divorced and 1= married/cohabitating.
* p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001.
 Study 2 results showed that ought discrepancies did not predict agitation when
controlling for ideal discrepancies and dejection.
 Study 1 results showed that ought discrepancies did not predict agitation when
controlling for ideal discrepancies and dejection.
Discussion
 Some support was found for extending SDT to the social role of mother, given that ideal
discrepancies from the “self-as-mother” perspective predicted dejection in both Studies 1
and 2. This finding is robust, as the analyses controlled for the variance shared by ought
discrepancies and agitation. However, SDT was not fully supported since no support for the
ought discrepancy-agitation relationship was found.
 Given the impact maternal mental health has on family functioning and child outcomes (e.g.,
Benazon &, Coyne 2000), clinicians treating depressed mothers should consider cognitive
factors that contribute to their clients’ symptoms, such as the standards against which clients
measure themselves.
 The current samples featured White, educated, middle class mothers, so findings may not
 Correlational results suggest that self-discrepancies relate to negative affect in general, which
is shared between depression and anxiety (Watson et al., 1988), rather than to specific types
of negative affect (e.g., dejection or agitation). This idea is supported by previous research
that found relationships between self-discrepancies and negative emotion (e.g., Ozgul et al.,
2003; Tangney et al., 1998) and may explain the partial support for SDT.
generalize to mothers of different socioeconomic groups. Participants’ had children of varying
ages, which likely resulted in heterogeneous experiences of parenting. It is unknown how this
may have influenced mother’s ideal and ought self-guides and self-discrepancies.

Please contact Nicole J. Holmberg with comments, questions, or feedback about this poster at
[email protected] or via the Psychology Department, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115.