Emergence of attributional style and its relation to depressive symptoms.
The development of depressive attributional style (AS) and its role as a cognitive diathesis for depression were examined in children and adolescents (Grades 2-9). In a 4-wave longitudinal study of 3 overlapping age cohorts, AS, negative life events, and depressive symptoms were evaluated every 12 months. Consistency of children's attributions across situations was moderately high at all ages. The cross-sectional structure of AS changed with age, as stability became a more salient aspect of AS than internality and globality. The structure of AS also changed, becoming more traitlike as children grew older. In longitudinal analyses, evidence of a Cognitive Diathesis x Stress interaction did not emerge until Grades 8 and 9, suggesting that AS may not serve as a diathesis for depression at younger ages. Results suggest that attributional models of depression may require modification before they are applied across developmental levels.
Cole
David A
DA
Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. david.cole@vanderbilt.edu
Ciesla
Jeffrey A
JA
Dallaire
Danielle H
DH
Jacquez
Farrah M
FM
Pineda
Ashley Q
AQ
Lagrange
Beth
B
Truss
Alanna E
AE
Folmer
Amy S
AS
Tilghman-Osborne
Carlos
C
Felton
Julia W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology