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Self Processes in Adolescent Depression: The Role of Self‐Worth Contingencies
Author(s) -
Burwell Rebecca A.,
Shirk Stephen R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2006.00503.x
Subject(s) - psychology , cognitive vulnerability , diathesis–stress model , depression (economics) , depressive symptoms , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , vulnerability (computing) , self worth , diathesis , association (psychology) , cognition , self esteem , psychiatry , psychotherapist , computer security , medical tourism , tourism , immunology , biology , political science , computer science , law , economics , macroeconomics
Although biased self‐evaluation is a component of several disorders, most measures focus on the content of self‐concepts or level of self‐worth rather than the process by which self‐worth is maintained. This longitudinal study examines the distinctive role of self‐worth contingencies—the extent to which adolescents link self‐worth to external feedback and success in four domains (social, academic, activities, and appearance) in the development of depressive symptoms among a sample of 110 adolescents (age mean = 13.62, SD =.52; 58.2% girls). Contingencies predicted change in depressive symptoms over time, but depressive symptoms did not predict change in contingencies over time. This pattern did not hold for the association between self‐worth and depression. Findings provide support for contingencies as a predictor, rather than a symptom, of depressive symptoms among adolescents. Evaluation of contingencies as a diathesis revealed an interaction effect for the social, but not academic domain. The findings have implications self‐worth contingencies as an important cognitive vulnerability to depressive symptoms during adolescence.