Cognitive Predictors and Behavioural Mediators of Vulnerability-Specific Stress Generation in Depressed Adults

This longitudinal study investigated the prospective relation of core beliefs and maladaptive behaviours with stress generation. A sample of 151 depressed females completed a battery of questionnaires to assess the presence of early maladaptive schemas, excessive reassurance seeking (ERS), avoidance, depression and anxiety. Approximately three months later, participants were administered the Beck Depression Inventory-II, a diagnostic interview, and a semi-structured contextual interview that assessed the number and severity of life events experienced since Baseline. ERS mediated the association between a Subjugation schema and dependent interpersonal stress, and behavioural-nonsocial avoidance mediated the relation of an Abandonment schema and dependent interpersonal stress. Furthermore, dependent interpersonal stress mediated the relation of Abandonment, Subjugation, ERS, and avoidance with depression at Follow-up, and ERS and behavioural avoidance both moderated the relation of Abandonment and dependent interpersonal stress. Findings suggest several causal mechanisms underlying the stress generation phenomenon.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Rnic, Katerina

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David Dozois

• stress generation
• stressful life events
• depression
• early maladaptive schemas
• avoidance
• excessive reassurance seeking
• cognitive vulnerability

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/34948

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/34948