28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

affect significantly the ways children relate to themselves and the formulation of their self-concept.
In particular, family coherence seems to be closely associated with maladjustment,
psychopathology and specifically depression in children. This study examines the relationship
between family coherence, self-esteem and depressive symptomatology in primary school Greek
children (N=150). The findings indicate that there are strong correlations between dominant
patterns of family interaction, children’s self-esteem and depressive symptomatology.
2091.2 A test of the integration of the hopelessness and self-esteem theories of depression in
children of affectively ill parents: A multi-wave longitudinal study, John Abela, Jodie
Richardson, McGill University, Canada
The current study tested the integration of the hopelessness and self-esteem theories of depression
in a sample of high risk children using a weakest link approach. We initially assessed
depressogenic inferential styles, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms in 140 children (ages 6-14)
of parents with a history of major depressive episodes. Subsequently, every six weeks for one year,
we assessed children's depressive symptoms and stress. Results provided full support for the
integrative theory. More specifically, a depressogenic weakest link was associated with elevations
in depressive symptoms following elevations in stress in children with low but not high levels of
self-esteem.
2091.3 Contagious depression: Does excessive reassurance seeking moderate the relationship
between parental and child depressive symptoms? John Abela 1 , Philippe Adams 1 , Benjamin
Hankin 2 , 1 McGill University, Canada; 2 University of Illinois, Chicago, USA
The current study utilized a multi-wave longitudinal design to examine whether the relationship
between parent and child depressive symptoms is moderated by children's level of reassurance
seeking. At Time 1, 140 children (ages 6-14) of affectively disordered parents completed measures
assessing reassurance seeking and depressive symptoms. In addition, every six weeks for the next
year, children and parents completed measures assessing depressive symptoms. Excessive
reassurance seeking was associated with elevations in depressive symptoms following elevations
in parental depressive symptoms in adolescents (ages 10-14) but not children (ages 6-9). The
impact of development on Coyne's (1976) interpersonal theory will be discussed.
2091.4 An examination of the specific vulnerability hypothesis in high-risk children and
adolescents, John Abela, Clara Wagner, Christian Webb, Steven Skitch, McGill University,
Canada
This study examined the specific vulnerability hypothesis of Blatt and Zuroff's theory of
personality predispositions to depression. In addition, we examined whether high self-esteem
buffers children high in self-criticism or dependency against developing depressive symptoms
following negative events. Children (ages 6-14) completed measures assessing depressive
symptoms, self-criticism, dependency, and self-esteem. Every six weeks for the next year, children
completed measures assessing depressive symptoms and stress. Results indicated that both
self-criticism and dependency serve as vulnerability factors to depression in older but not younger
children, with low but not high self-esteem. No support, however, was obtained for the specific
vulnerability hypothesis.
473