title: Gender differences in cognitive vulnerability to depression and behavior problems in adolescents.
abstract: This study assessed gender differences in cognitive variables as an explanation for gender differences in depression and behavior problems; 856 adolescents (491 females and 365 males), aged 14-17, completed the Irrational Beliefs Scale for Adolescents, the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised Short Form, the adolescent version of the Burnett Self-Talk Inventory, and the Youth Self Report. Female adolescents' lower levels of positive thinking and higher scores on negative problem orientation, need for approval and success, and self-focused negative cognitions partially mediated gender differences in depressive symptoms. Males' higher scores on justification of violence beliefs and the impulsivity/carelessness style of problem solving partially accounted for differences in delinquent behavior. The influence of need for approval and success on depressive symptoms was higher among adolescents at ages 14-15 than among older adolescents. Justification of violence did not influence delinquent behavior among girls at age 14-15.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain. ecalvete@fice.deusto.es
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvete
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cardeñoso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011581:Psychological Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution