Children's feedback preferences in response to an experimentally manipulated peer evaluation outcome: the role of depressive symptoms.
The present study examined the linkage between pre-adolescent children's depressive symptoms and their preferences for receiving positive vs. negative feedback subsequent to being faced with an experimentally manipulated peer evaluation outcome in real time. Participants (n = 142) ages 10 to 13, played a computer contest based on the television show Survivor and were randomized to either a peer rejection (i.e., receiving the lowest total 'likeability' score from a group of peer-judges), a peer success (i.e., receiving the highest score), or a control peer evaluation condition. Children's self-reported feedback preferences were then assessed. Results revealed that participants assigned to the negative evaluation outcome, relative to either the success or the control outcome, showed a significantly higher subsequent preference for negatively tuned feedback. Contrary to previous work and predictions derived from self-verification theory, children higher in depressive symptoms were only more likely to prefer negative feedback in response to the negative peer evaluation outcome. These effects for depression were not accounted for by either state mood at baseline or mood change in response to the feedback manipulation.
Reijntjes
Albert
A
Utrecht University, PO Box 80150, Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.h.a.reijntjes@fss.uu.nl
Dekovic
Maja
M
Vermande
Marjolijn
M
Telch
Michael J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D035061:Control Groups; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010379:Peer Group; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012649:Self Concept; D012928:Social Desirability; D012963:Sociometric Techniques; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires