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The Use of Negative Events to Prime Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression

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Abstract

This prospective study tested three hypotheses put forth to explain previous inconsistencies in research examining the hopelessness theory of depression. Ninety-three university students completed measures of attributional style for achievement and interpersonal events both before and after experiencing a negative prime. Depressed mood was assessed before the priming task, and at two time points after the students completed their most difficult midterm exam: immediately after receiving their exam grade and 4 days later. Both exam outcome and attributional style, but not their interaction, were significant predictors of change in depressed mood immediately following the receipt of exam grades. Primed depressogenic attributional styles for achievement events interacted with a negative exam outcome to predict depressive mood reactions 4 days later.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, (Quebec), Canada

    John R. Z. Abela & Karen Brozina

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  1. John R. Z. Abela
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  2. Karen Brozina
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Correspondence to John R. Z. Abela.

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Abela, J.R.Z., Brozina, K. The Use of Negative Events to Prime Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research 28, 209–227 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COTR.0000021541.94461.7c

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COTR.0000021541.94461.7c

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