title: Children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities.
abstract: Children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities were examined as a function of their sex, age, and level of depression. In Study 1, 322 children aged 8 to 12 yr. were asked to identify as many counter-depressive activities as possible. Girls provided more counter-depressive responses than boys and more often reported Help-seeking responses, while boys more frequently produced both Activity and Recreation responses. In Study 2, 98 children, ages 8 to 14 yr., completed the Children's Depression Inventory and generated counter-depressive activities. Girls provided more counter-depressive activities than boys, and older children provided more counter-depressive activities than younger ones. Although depression scores were unrelated to the types of counter-depressive activities provided, they were modestly, though statistically significantly, correlated with the number of counter-depressive activities: as depression increased, children listed fewer coping activities. The relationship between children's perceptions of counter-depressive activities and those of adults is discussed.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010556:Personality Tests