Gender differences in the longitudinal structure of cognitive diatheses for depression in children and adolescents.
In a school-based, four-wave, longitudinal study, children (grades 4-7) and young adolescents (grades 6-9) completed questionnaires measuring depressive symptoms and depressive cognitions, including positive and negative cognitions on the Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children (CTI-C; Kaslow, Stark, Printz, Livingston, & Tsai, 1992) and self-perceived competence on the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC; Harter, 1985). Application of the Trait-State-Occasion model (Cole, Martin, & Steiger, 2005) revealed the existence of a time-invariant trait factor and a set of time-varying occasion factors. Gender differences emerged, indicating that some cognitive diatheses were more trait-like for girls than for boys (i.e., positive and negative cognitions on the CTI-C; self-perceived physical appearance and global self-worth on the SPPC). Implications focus on the emergent gender difference in depression, the design of longitudinal studies, and clinical decisions about the implementation of prevention versus intervention programs.
Cole
David A
DA
Psychology & Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. david.cole@vanderbilt.edu
Jacquez
Farrah M
FM
Truss
Alanna E
AE
Pineda
Ashley Q
AQ
Weitlauf
Amy S
AS
Tilghman-Osborne
Carlos E
CE
Felton
Julia W
JW
Maxwell
Melissa A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012925:Social Conformity; D012928:Social Desirability; D013694:Temperament