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Coping, Negative Cognitive Style and Depressive Symptoms in Children of Depressed Parents

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Abstract

Coping and negative cognitive style were studied in relation to depressive symptoms in children at risk for depression. In a sample of 165 children (ages 9–15) of depressed parents, the main and interaction effects of coping and negative cognitive style were examined in association with children’s depressive symptoms measured by parent and child report on questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. Negative cognitive style was related to three types of coping (primary control, secondary control, and disengagement). Furthermore, coping and negative cognitive style made independent contributions to depressive symptoms. Little support emerged for interactive effects on depressive symptoms. Implications for future research with this high-risk population of children are considered.

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Notes

  1. The terms child and children will be used throughout to refer to our entire sample of 9–15 year old children and adolescents.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants R01MH069940 and R01 MH069928 from the National Institute of Mental Health and by a gift from Patricia and Rodes Hart and Heinz and Rowena Ansbacher. The authors are grateful to Michelle Reising, Emily Hardcastle, Jennifer Thigpen, MJ Merchant, Lori Roberts, Kristen Reeslund, and Jessica Fear for their many contributions to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Peabody #552, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA

    Jennifer P. Dunbar, Kelly H. Watson & Bruce E. Compas

  2. Psychology Department, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA

    Laura McKee

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Aaron Rakow & Rex Forehand

Authors
  1. Jennifer P. Dunbar
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  2. Laura McKee
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  3. Aaron Rakow
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  4. Kelly H. Watson
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  5. Rex Forehand
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  6. Bruce E. Compas
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Correspondence to Jennifer P. Dunbar.

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Dunbar, J.P., McKee, L., Rakow, A. et al. Coping, Negative Cognitive Style and Depressive Symptoms in Children of Depressed Parents. Cogn Ther Res 37, 18–28 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-012-9437-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-012-9437-8

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