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The Relationship Between Self-Complexity and Depressive Symptoms in Third and Seventh Grade Children: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study

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Abstract

The goal of this study was to test the diathesis–stress component of Linville's and Morgan and Janoff-Bulman's models of the relationship between self-complexity and depressive symptoms in a sample of third and seventh grade children (P. W. Linville, 1985, 1987; H. J. Morgan & Janoff-Bulman, 1994). The procedure involved an initial assessment of self-complexity and depressive symptoms. The procedure also involved a follow-up assessment, 10 weeks later, in which depressive symptoms and the occurrence of negative events were assessed. Contrary to hypotheses, neither high levels of total nor positive self-complexity served as a buffer against the onset of depressive symptoms following the occurrence of negative events. In line with hypotheses, however, high levels of negative self-complexity interacted with the occurrence of negative events to predict increases in depressive symptoms in seventh but not third grade children.

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Abela, J.R.Z., Véronneau-McArdle, MH. The Relationship Between Self-Complexity and Depressive Symptoms in Third and Seventh Grade Children: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study. J Abnorm Child Psychol 30, 155–166 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014705316224

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014705316224

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