title: A longitudinal test of the attributional vulnerability model in children at risk for depression.
abstract: The attributional vulnerability model of depression has rarely been tested in prospective designs, or as an interaction of stressful events and cognitions, or with depression as a specific response outcome. Moreover, the model has rarely been applied to children. All these issues were addressed in this study of prediction of diagnoses during a six-month follow-up for a sample of children that included offspring of women with affective disorders presumed to be at high risk for depression. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses failed to support the attributional hypotheses: depression was best predicted by initial symptoms and by life stress but not by attributions for negative outcomes or the interaction of attributions and life-events. Non-affective diagnoses, on the other hand, were predicted by an interaction of life-events and attributions. The results suggest limitations in the range of application of the attributional model in clinical samples, at least with children and adolescents at risk.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Hammen
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Adrian
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Hiroto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006380:Helplessness, Learned / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012718:Set, Psychology