Abstract
The present investigation evaluated depression, attributional style, hopelessness, temperament and stressful life events among children and adolescents (9-17 years old) hospitalized on a psychiatric service. Results indicated differences between the depressed and nondepressed groups. Individuals who rated themselves as depressed exhibited depressogenic attributional style on measures of internality and stability for bad events, and reported the opposite style for good events. Differences between the two groups based on DSM-III diagnostic criteria occurred on attributional style pertaining to globality/specificity for good events. Both the diagnostically depressed and nondepressed groups evidenced internal attributional style for bad events. Overall, the present findings are largely in accord with the reformulated hopelessness model of depression (Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978) and suggests that older children and adolescents share similar characteristics of adults with depressive symptoms.
Benfield, Connie Young (1985). Depression and response to treatment in an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric population. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -594947.