Depressive Symptoms in Low-Income,Urban Adolescents: Cognitive and Contextual Factors |
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| Authors: | Esteban V Cardemil Ellen H O'Donnell Christianne Esposito-Smythers Kristen Schoff D'Eramo Bree E Derrick Anthony Spirito |
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| Institution: | 1. Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology , Clark University , Worcester , Massachusetts , USA ecardemil@clarku.edu;3. Department of Psychiatry , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , Massachusetts , USA;4. Department of Psychology , George Mason University , Fairfax , Virginia , USA;5. Center for Children with Special Needs , Glastonbury , Connecticut , USA;6. Council of State Governments , Seattle , Washington , USA;7. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Brown Medical School , Providence , Rhode Island , USA |
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| Abstract: | This study examined the relationships among cognitive variables, family immigration history, negative life events, and depressive symptoms in a sample of 306 low-income, urban fifth- and sixth-grade children. Explanatory style and negative automatic thoughts were the cognitive variables examined. There were three key findings. First, children who were immigrants reported significantly more depressive symptoms, more negative life events, and more negative automatic thoughts than children who were not immigrants. Second, both explanatory style and negative automatic thoughts were significantly associated with depressive symptoms above and beyond the effects of child immigration history and negative life events. Finally, negative automatic thoughts mediated the relationship between child immigration history and depressive symptoms. We discuss the clinical and research implications of these findings. |
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| Keywords: | cognitive context depression immigration urban |
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