title: An examination of the response styles theory of depression in third- and seventh-grade children: a short-term longitudinal study.
abstract: The goal of this study was to test the response styles theory of depression in a sample of 3rd- and 7th-grade children. In addition, we examined whether the relationship between rumination and increases in depressive symptoms is mediated by hopelessness and low self-esteem. The procedure involved an initial assessment in which depressive symptoms, response styles, hopelessness, and self-esteem were assessed. The procedure also involved a follow-up assessment, 6 weeks later, in which depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and self-esteem were reassessed. Children with a ruminative response style exhibited increases in depressive symptoms over the 6-week period. In addition, the relationship between rumination and increases in depressive symptoms was mediated by both hopelessness and low self-esteem. Last, contrary to our hypotheses, neither distraction nor problem-solving response styles predicted decreases in depressive symptoms over the course of the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: John R Z
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Abela
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brozina
authors.forename: Emily P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Haigh
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D013997:Time Factors