title: Diathesis-stress and depressed mood among adults with mental retardation.
abstract: The impact of diatheses, stress, and their interaction on depressed mood was evaluated to determine the appropriateness of cognitive diathesis-stress models of depression for adults with mental retardation. We also tested hopelessness as a mediator in the prediction of depressed mood to evaluate the hopelessness theory of depression. Seventy-three adults with mental retardation and adequate receptive vocabulary participated in semi-structured interviews. Experiencing life stressors and possessing a negative attributional style, but not their interaction, served as predictors of depressed mood. Similar results were obtained using frequency or impact ratings of life stress. Conditions were not met to test hopelessness as a mediator. Treatment implications for depression among adults with mental retardation are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53705, USA. esbensen@waisman.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Anna J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Esbensen
authors.forename: Betsey A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007807:Language Tests; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires