Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
Published on: December 2, 2015
Diathesis-stress and depressed mood among adults with mental retardation
Anna J Esbensen1, Betsey A Benson
1Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53705, USA. esbensen@waisman.wisc.edu
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.
Related Concept Videos
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Depression: Overview
Psychological Responses to Stress
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
