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Toward a categorization of depression-related psychological constructs

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Abstract

We conducted two factor-analytic studies of eight depression-related constructs (internal, stable, and global dimensions of attributional style, dysfunctional attitudes, self-esteem, reassurance-seeking, and cognitive and somatic depressed symptoms) among 673 undergraduates. Study 1's exploratory factor analysis revealed that the attributional stability and globality dimensions comprised an Attributional Generality factor; that dysfunctional attitudes and self-esteem loaded onto a separate factor labeled Self-Regard; and that cognitive and somatic depressed symptoms made up their own separate factor, which also included self-esteem. Study 2's LISREL confirmatory factor analyses confirmed Study 1's findings. Results on attributional internality and reassurance-seeking were equivocal. We discuss the implications of the results for depression theory and research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. D-25, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 77555-0425, Galveston, Texas

    Thomas E. Joiner Jr.

  2. Texas A & M University Health Sciences Center, USA

    M. David Rudd

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  1. Thomas E. Joiner Jr.
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  2. M. David Rudd
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Additional information

Preparation of this article was supported, in part, by a Young Investigator Award to Thomas Joiner from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD), by a Research Grant to Thomas Joiner from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the funds of which derive from the Pearl and Aaron Forman Research Foundation and the John Sealy Memorial Endowment Fund, and by a grant to M. David Rudd from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH48097).

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Joiner, T.E., David Rudd, M. Toward a categorization of depression-related psychological constructs. Cogn Ther Res 20, 51–68 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02229243

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