Benefiting Individuals High in Both Self-Criticism and Dependency Through an Online Multi-component Positive Psychology Intervention: Effects and Mechanisms

Personality vulnerabilities (i.e., dependency and self-criticism) have been established as critical risk factors for psychopathology in general and for depression in particular. However, research does not address ways of treating those who score high on both dependency and self-criticism, or mixed-vulnerability individuals. To benefit these individuals, we developed an online, group-administered, multi-component positive psychology intervention (MPPI) and tested its effects and mechanisms. Participants (N = 70) were randomly assigned to either receive the MPPI or an active placebo control. The six-session intervention took place over three weeks, and measures were completed at baseline, midtest, posttest, and one-month follow-up stages. Compared to the control condition, the MPPI significantly attenuated self-criticism and dependency for up to one month. The intervention also decreased depression and promoted self-esteem and subjective well-being (SWB). Parallel mediation analyses revealed that lower self-criticism mediated the intervention’s effects on depression, self-esteem, and SWB, while lower dependency mediated effects on self-esteem. This study highlights how an MPPI can decrease personality vulnerability in mixed-vulnerability individuals, and how this change can have further positive effects.