Cognitive vulnerability in children at risk for depression.
Cognitive, developmental, and psychodynamic theories all hypothesize that negative self-concepts acquired in childhood may induce vulnerability to depression. Children at risk because of maternal major affective disorder, compared with children of medically ill and normal mothers, were examined for evidence of negative cognitions about themselves, and were found to have more negative self-concept, less positive self-schemas, and more negative attributional style. It was further predicted that negative cognitions about the self would be related to maternal depression and chronic stress, and to the quality of perceived and actual interactions with the mother. In general, the predicted associations were obtained, supporting speculations about how maternal affective disorder is associated with stress and with relatively negative and unsupportive relationships with children that in turn diminish children's self-regard.
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024.
C
C
Jaenicke
C
C
Hammen
B
B
Zupan
D
D
Hiroto
D
D
Gordon
C
C
Adrian
D
D
Burge
D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept