title: Specific vulnerability to depressive mood reactions in schoolchildren: the moderating role of self-esteem.
abstract: Tested the specific vulnerability hypothesis of Blatt and Zuroff's (1992) theory of personality predispositions to depression in a sample of 119 3rd-grade children (58 girls and 61 boys; mean age = 8.8 years) and 184 7th-grade children (78 girls and 106 boys; mean age = 12.8 years). In addition, we examined whether high self-esteem buffers against depressive reactions following negative events in children possessing high levels of self-criticism or dependency. Last, we examined whether these relations vary as a function of grade or sex. At baseline, participants completed questionnaires assessing depressed mood, self-criticism, dependency, and self-esteem. Six weeks later, participants completed questionnaires assessing depressed mood and negative events. Results provided limited support for the specific vulnerability hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.abela@ego.psych.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: John R Z
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Abela
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors