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Objectives. This prospective study tested the diathesis-stress and causal mediation components of Beck's (1967, 1983) cognitive theory of depression.
Design. In order to allow for a stringent test of the aetiological component of Beck's theory, we used a short-term longitudinal design in which participants' dysfunctional attitudes were assessed prior to the occurrence of a negative event.
Methods. In all, 136 high school seniors applying to the University of Pennsylvania completed measures of depressed mood and dysfunctional attitudes I-8 weeks before receiving their admissions decision (Time I). The assessment of dysfunctional attitudes was preceded by a priming task designed to activate latent depressogenic schemata. Participants also completed measures of depressed mood, negative views of the self, and negative views of the future shortly after they received their admissions decision Crime 2) and four days later (Time 3).
Results. Consistent with the diathesis-stress component of Beck's theory, dysfunctional attitudes predicted increases in depressed mood immediately following a negative admissions outcome (Time 2). In addition, consistent with the causal mediation component of the theory, in negative outcome students, the relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and increases in depressed mood was mediated by negative views of the future. Contrary to predictions, however, this relationship was not mediated by negative views of the self. In addition, contrary to predictions, dysfunctional attitudes did not predict enduring depressed mood after a negative outcome (Time 3).
Conclusions. Individuals with dysfunctional attitudes are likely to show increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events. The relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and increases in depressed mood following the occurrence of negative events is mediated by negative views of the future.
Individuals in Western cultures are currently experiencing depression at an unprecedented rate. Epidemiological studies have revealed recently that as many as 17% of individuals will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their life (Kessler et al., 1994). In response to such alarming statistics, researchers from diverse theoretical orientations have proposed numerous theories that attempt to account for the aetiology of depression.
One cognitive theory that has generated a vast body of empirical research is Beck's (1967, 1983) cognitive diathesis-stress theory of depression. Central to Beck's theory is the construct of schemata. Beck defines schemata as stored bodies of knowledge that affect...