A test of interpersonal theory of depression in youth psychiatric inpatients

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1999 Feb;27(1):77-85. doi: 10.1023/a:1022666424731.

Abstract

Coyne's (1976b) interpersonal theory of depression postulated that the combination of depressive symptoms and excessive reassurance-seeking leads to interpersonal problems (e.g., loneliness, devaluation). The present study is one of the first to test this model among youth, particularly a clinical sample of youth. Sixty-eight youth psychiatric inpatients (35 girls; 33 boys; mean age = 13.34 years, SD = 2.50) completed self-report measures of excessive reassurance-seeking, depressive symptoms, and interpersonal rejection. Results conformed to the hypothesis: The statistical interaction of excessive reassurance-seeking and depressive symptoms predicted interpersonal rejection, such that high-reassurance-seeking youth with depressive symptoms reported the most interpersonal rejection. Implications of the findings for interpersonal theory of depression in youngsters are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Psychometrics
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Concept*