A longitudinal study of the hopelessness theory of depression: testing the diathesis-stress model within a differential reactivity and exposure framework.

Abstract

A ten-week prospective longitudinal study was conducted to test the diathesis-stress component of the hopelessness theory and to test whether negative attributional style leads to an increased exposure to stressors. Participants completed initial measures of attributional style and depressive symptoms followed by weekly assessments of depressive symptoms and daily hassles. Consistent with the diathesis-stress hypothesis, Hierarchical Linear Modeling revealed that attributional style moderated the impact of daily hassles on depressive symptoms. Negative attributional style predicted greater depressive symptom reactivity in response to stress. The results also indicated that attributional style was not predictive of the number of subsequent daily hassles. Thus, the data were supportive of a differential reactivity to stress model, but not supportive of a differential exposure to stress model. Implications for understanding the mechanisms involved in the hopelessness theory are discussed.