Cognitive Dissonance and Depression: An Exploration Using Mixed Methods

Abstract

Background Depression is a debilitating mental health problem in which inner conflict plays a major role. How a person experiences and resolves inner conflict has been well developed in cognitive dissonance theory. The use of dissonance theory has remained mostly limited to the field of social psychology and the link between depression and dissonance theory is largely unexplored. By researching the application of cognitive dissonance theory to experiences of individuals with depression it may be possible to expand our understanding of depression.

Aims The overall aim of this study was to explore how the process of depression might be related to the mechanism of cognitive dissonance. The objectives of the study were: to identify and compare episodes of cognitive dissonance in two participant groups (depressed and non-depressed), to analyse how different elements of cognitive dissonance are experienced by participants, and finally to develop a conceptual model that illustrates the potential relationship between depression and dissonance.

Methods This study used a mixed-methods approach involving two participant groups (a depressed cohort, n=15 and a non-depressed comparison group, n=15). The data was collected using quantitative tools for depression (CESD-10, Andresen et al. 1994) and for dissonance (DiEL questionnaire, De Vries et al. 2015), and semi-structured qualitative interviews, and was analysed using statistical analysis and template analysis, respectively. Full ethical approval was obtained.

Findings The quantitative data confirmed that participants in the depression cohort scored significantly higher on the depression scale. However, the dissonance tool revealed no difference between groups in sensitivity to dissonance. There were several qualitative differences observed between the groups in the source, experience, and means of reduction of cognitive dissonance conflict. The qualitative findings also showed that the depressed participant group experienced dissonance that was based on more serious life events. The non-depressed group displayed both a greater frequency and variety of inner conflict resolution strategies than the depressed participant group.

Conclusion This study?s findings suggest that cognitive dissonance theory can help to further understand the experience of depression and may have implications for future depression research, clinical interventions, and psychoeducation.