| In the present study, 80 male and female, high and low depressed university students were compared on dimensions relevant to contemporary cognitive theories of depression including interpersonal problem solving performance, self-expectancies, self-evaluations and attributions. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used as a criterion for depression. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that self-perceptions (expectancies/evaluations) distinguished between high and low depressed subjects, while interpersonal problem solving performance did not. Highly depressed subjects were superior to low depressed subjects at setting performance criteria and accurately evaluating their level of skill. Highly depressed subjects did not demonstrate a helpless attributional style. However, low depressed subjects displayed what has been referred to as self-serving attributional bias. Theoretical and empirical issues concerning cognitive theories of depression are discussed. |
