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The influence of familial support and dysfunctional attitudes on depression and delinquency in an adolescent population

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Abstract

This study evaluates the role of familial support and dysfunctional attitudes in depression, delinquency and the concomitance of these disorders in an adolescent population from a middle-class community in the Trois-Rivieres area. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Mesure d'adaptation sociale et personnelle pour adolescents québécois —MASPAQ (Measure of social and personal adaptation in Quebec adolescents) were used respectively to evaluate depression and delinquency. The Mesure de la perception du soutien familial (Measure of perceived social support — family) and Échelle des attitudes dysfonctionnelles (Dysfunctional attitude scale) served to evaluate the familial and cognitive variables of the study. The findings confirm that a higher incidence of disorders concerning depression and delinquency in adolescents is associated with a lower level of familial support. Moreover, whereas dysfunctional attitudes concerning dependence and achievement are related to the presence of internal disorders such as depression, dysfunctional attitudes concerning self-control are linked to external problems such as delinquency. Findings of the test on the mediating role of dysfunctional attitudes in the relationship between familial support on the one hand and depression and delinquency on the other, do not support the presence of such a role.

Résumé

Cette étude évalue le rôle du soutien familial et des attitudes dysfonctionnelles dans la dépression, la délinquance et la concomitance de ces troubles chez une population d'adolescents provenant d'un milieu socio-économique moyen dans la région de Trois-Riviêres. L'inventaire de la dépression de Beck ainsi que la Mesure d'adaptation sociale et personnelle pour adolescents québécois ont respectivement permis d'évaluer la dépression et la délinquance, Pour leur part, la Mesure de la perception du soutien familial et l'Echelle des attitudes dysfonctionnelles ont permis d'évaluer les variables familiale et cognitive à l'étude. Les résultats confirment que plus les adolescents présentent de troubles liés à la dépression et à la délinquance, moins ils rapportent recevoir de soutien familial. En outre, alors que les attitudes dysfonctionnelles relatives à la dépendance et à la réussite sont reliées à la présence de troubles intériorisés comme la dépression, les attitudes dysfonctionnelles relatives à l'autocontrôle sont plutôt liées à la présence de troubles extériorisés comme la délinquance. Les résultats de l'examen du rôle médiateur des attitudes dysfonctionnelles dans la relation entre le soutien familial d'une part et la dépression et la délinquance d'autre part ne permettent pas de soutenir la présence d'un tel rôle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Etudiante au doctorat en psychologie, Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, succursale centre-ville, H3C 3P8, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Geneviève Marcotte, Diane Marcotte & Thérèse Bouffard

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  1. Geneviève Marcotte
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  2. Diane Marcotte
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  3. Thérèse Bouffard
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Data collection and preparation of this article were supported by a grant from Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l'Aide à la Recherche (FCAR funds).

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Marcotte, G., Marcotte, D. & Bouffard, T. The influence of familial support and dysfunctional attitudes on depression and delinquency in an adolescent population. Eur J Psychol Educ 17, 363–376 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173591

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173591

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