Problem-Solving Appraisal and Depression: Evidence for a Recovery Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether problem-solving appraisal plays a role in recovery from depression in a university population. It was predicted that self-appraised effective problem solvers would be more likely to recover from a depressive episode than self-appraised ineffective problem solvers. Consistent with this hypothesis, there was a significant Time 1 problem-solving appraisal x Time 1 depression interaction in predicting Time 2 depression scores. More specifically, by Time 2 the self-appraised effective problem solvers reported only mild levels of depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] = 12), whereas the self-appraised ineffective problem solvers reported levels of depression that were moderate to severe (BDI = 20).