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Attributions and recovery from depression: a preliminary study using cross-lagged correlation analysis
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|September 1, 1982
Summary
Depression recovery is influenced by how patients attribute symptoms and life events. For female patients, attributions of stability and uncontrollability causally impacted depression levels over six weeks.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychopathology
Background:
- Depression is a significant mental health concern.
- Understanding factors influencing depression recovery is crucial for effective treatment.
- Attributional styles for negative events and symptoms may play a role in depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal influence of attributions for symptoms and life events on depression recovery.
- To examine specific attributional dimensions (internality, stability, globality, uncontrollability) in depressed patients.
Main Methods:
- Cross-lagged correlation analysis was used to assess causal relationships.
- Depressed patients and controls rated their symptoms and recent upsetting life events.
- Attributions were measured on four dimensions: internality, stability, globality, and uncontrollability.
Main Results:
- Depressed patients exhibited significantly more global and uncontrollable attributions compared to controls.
- For female depressed patients, attributions of stability and uncontrollability demonstrated a causal influence on depression levels six weeks later.
Conclusions:
- Attributional style is a significant factor in the course of depression.
- Specific attributional dimensions, particularly uncontrollability and stability, are critical for understanding depression recovery in women.