The stability and prediction of depressive mood states in college students.
Objective criteria for predicting dysphoric mood states in college students from measures of stress and cognitive and personality variables were developed and cross-validated. Contrary to Beck's diathesis-stress model of depression, although dysfunctional attitudes, together with the number and impact of life events, self-esteem problems, and level of traditional feminine personality characteristics, predicted concurrent levels of depressive symptoms, initial level of depression was the best predictor of future depression. Cross-validation of the criteria resulted in accuracy rates of 86 to 87%. Implications of these results and some secondary findings were discussed.
Wong
J L
JL
Department of Psychology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls 50614-0505.
Whitaker
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*