NCJ Number
219601
Journal
Journal of Early Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 363-385
Date Published
August 2007
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study explored whether adolescents with high levels of self-criticism and/or dependency were vulnerable to developing hopelessness depression symptoms following a negative event.
Abstract
The findings supported the hypothesis that early adolescents displaying high levels of self-criticism were more likely to experience increases in hopelessness depression symptoms following negative achievement. This finding did not occur, however, following the experience of negative interpersonal events. Also, the children who experienced an increase in hopelessness depression symptoms did not display symptoms of nonhopelessness depression. The results also revealed that early adolescents displaying high levels of dependency did not exhibit increases in hopelessness or nonhopelessness depression symptoms following negative achievement or negative interpersonal events. The findings illustrate the assertions of many theory-based researchers, namely that there are several pathways leading to different types of depression. The findings thus provide partial support for the integration of psychodynamic personality theory of depression with the hopelessness theory of depression. Future research should focus on the integration of these two theories and should use more sophisticated and thorough assessments of personality predispositions, stress, and depressive symptoms. Participants were 79 seventh grade students from an urban private girls’ school and a suburban private school in Montreal, Canada. Participants completed the Children’s Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and the Child Depression Inventory (CDI). Ten weeks later, participants again completed the CDI as well as the Children’s Life Events Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression models. Tables, notes, references