Internal Attributions Research Articles

Everyday ostracism experiences of depressed individuals: Uncovering the role of attributions using experience sampling

BackgroundDepression is linked to more frequent experiences of ostracism (being excluded and ignored). Here, we examine attributions of everyday ostracism that may play an important role in individuals’ experience of and reactions to ostracism. Based on interpersonal and attribution theories of depression, we hypothesize that internal (compared to external) attributions of ostracism and attributions to being burdensome are particularly frequent among depressed individuals. MethodsWe use an experience sampling approach including retrospective reports of ostracism (N = 490) and event-contingent reports of ostracism (n = 323, k = 1107 experiences in 14 days) to analyze the frequency of everyday ostracism experiences, subsequent need threat, and attributions of ostracism by depressed individuals (i.e., individuals with stronger current depressive symptoms and those who had been diagnosed with depression before). ResultsDepressed individuals report more frequent retrospective ostracism, and more frequent everyday ostracism, as well as higher need threat following everyday ostracism. Depressed individuals do not attribute ostracism more internally, but they attribute being ostracized more frequently to being burdensome, as well as to hostile intent of the ostracizer(s). LimitationsThis research used a non-clinical sample and self-reports of current depressive symptoms and previous diagnoses of depression. Future research in patient populations and longitudinal designs will fruitfully complement the present findings. ConclusionsMaladaptive attributions of everyday ostracism may perpetuate the cycle between ostracism experiences and depression. This warrants attention from clinical practitioners, specifically in interventions against cognitive biases in depression.

The Impact of Offsetting Internal Attributions on Investor Judgments

While prior research has primarily focused on how self-serving versus incentive-incompatible attributions impact investors’ judgments, we focus on how combining self-serving or incentive-incompatible attributions with offsetting internal attributions impact investors’ judgments. Offsetting internal attributions are causal explanations attributed to internal actions that impact earnings positively (negatively) in an overall negative (positive) news environment. Our first experiment demonstrates that when a firm has overall negative news, highlighting an offsetting, silver-lining attribution is viewed as more credible/forthcoming when it is accompanied by an overall incentive-incompatible versus self-serving attribution. Therefore, highlighting the silver-lining offset improves investors’ earnings estimates only when the management has also been highlighting incentive-incompatible versus self-serving attributions. Our second experiment finds that highlighting an offsetting, blemish attribution together with self-serving attributions increases credibility/forthcomingness assessments more than highlighting self-serving attributions alone. Our study extends research on management attributions and strategic disclosures and has practical implications.

Relational attributions for one's own resilience predict compassion for others.

Existing work on attribution theory distinguishes between external and internal attributions (i.e., "I overcame adversity due to luck" vs. "my own effort"). We introduce the construct of relational resilience attributions (i.e., "due to help from other people") as a critical, but overlooked form of external attribution that predicts compassion toward others. We first document the presence of internal, relational (social external), and situational (nonsocial external) resilience attributions among people who have overcome unemployment, showing the predominance of internal attributions (Study 1). Next, we show that relational attributions uniquely predict compassion toward people struggling to overcome a range of challenges, including losing a loved one (Study 2), quitting smoking (Study 3a), workplace bullying (Study 3b), divorce (Study 4a), and pandemic survival (Study 4b). To examine causality and the malleability of relational attributions, we experimentally induce relational attributions among ex-smokers (Study 5), advanced degree holders (Study 6), and those who completed a fatiguing task (Study 7). We further find that gratitude is one critical link between one's own relational attributions and compassion toward others. Despite the prevailing tendency for people to make internal attributions for their resilience, forming relational attributions is positively associated with greater compassion for others struggling to endure adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The effects of identity salience on product judgment in a domain of trade-offs

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate a condition under which identity salience effects are weakened. By examining how identity salience influences individuals’ product judgment in a domain of trade-offs, the current research demonstrates that the utilitarian value of a product is an important determinant of the effectiveness of identity salience on product judgment.Design/methodology/approachThis research consists of two experiments. In Experiment 1, the authors examined whether identity salience effects were mitigated when the level of the perceived utilitarian value of an identity-incongruent product was greater than that of an identity-congruent product. In Experiment 2, the authors examined the effectiveness of internal attribution as a moderator that strengthens identity salience effects when the perceived utilitarian value of an identity-incongruent (vs. identity-congruent) product is higher.FindingsIn Experiment 1, the authors show that when the utilitarian value of a product with an attribute congruent (vs. incongruent) with one’s salient identity is lower, individuals do not show a greater preference for the identity-congruent (vs. identity-incongruent) product, mitigating the identity salience effects. Experiment 2 demonstrates that when individuals with a salient identity attribute a decision outcome to the self, they display a greater preference for the identity-congruent product even when its utilitarian value is lower compared to that of the identity-incongruent product.Research limitations/implicationsThe research contributes to previous research examining conditions under which identity salience effects are weakened [e.g. social influence by others (Bolton and Reed, 2004); self-affirmation (Cohen et al., 2007)] by exploring the role of the utilitarian value of a product, which has not been examined yet in prior research. Also, by doing so, the current research adds to the literature on identity salience in a domain of trade-offs (Benjamin et al., 2010; Shaddy et al., 2020, 2021). Finally, this research reveals that when a decision outcome is attributed to the self, identity salience effects become greater. By finding a novel determinant of identity salience effects (i.e. internal attribution), the present research contributes to the literature that has examined factors that amplify identity salience effects [e.g. cultural relevance (Chattaraman et al., 2009); social distinctiveness (Forehand et al., 2002); different types of groups (White and Dahl, 2007)].Practical implicationsThe findings provide managerial insights on identity-based marketing by showing a condition under which identity-based marketing does not work [i.e. when the utilitarian value of an identity-congruent (vs. identity-incongruent) product is lower] and how to enhance the effectiveness of identity-based marketing by using internal attribution.Originality/valueBy exploring the role of utilitarian value, not yet examined in prior research, the present research adds to the knowledge of the conditions under which identity salience effects are weakened. Furthermore, by finding a novel determinant of identity salience effects (i.e. internal attribution), the research contributes to the literature on factors that amplify identity salience effects.

Quantitative measurement of internal quality of carrots using hyperspectral imaging and multivariate analysis

The study aimed to measure the carotenoid (Car) and pH contents of carrots using hyperspectral imaging. A total of 300 images were collected using a hyperspectral imaging system, covering 472 wavebands from 400 to 1000 nm. Regions of interest (ROIs) were defined to extract average spectra from the hyperspectral images (HIS). We developed two models: least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) to establish a quantitative analysis between the pigment amounts and spectra. The spectra and pigment contents were predicted and correlated using these models. The selection of EWs for modeling was done using the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA), regression coefficients (RC) from PLSR models, and LS-SVM. The results demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging could effectively evaluate the internal attributes of carrot cortex and xylem. Moreover, these models accurately predicted the Car and pH contents of the carrot parts. This study provides a valuable approach for variable selection and modeling in hyperspectral imaging studies of carrots.

Cross-industry contagion of systemic financial risks from the perspective of dynamic tail risk network: Evidence from China

Fluctuations in interconnectedness within different industrial sectors are hence critical not only for financial market stability but also for the development of real economy. Thus, this paper contractures the varying network structure and estimates the tail risk spillover linkages at the industry level by applying the TENET (Tail-Event driven NETwork) framework on China’s 24 sectors from 2007 to 2018. There is a higher level of risk spillovers and spatial linkages between sectors during turmoil periods, and the centrality indicators can effectively identify the systemically important industries. Notably, it is more comprehensive and accurate to judge the systemic importance node by considering its location and connection in the network rather than just its internal attributes. Furthermore, the high-order polynomial regressions show that degree and eigenvector centrality have a significantly positive effect on risk contagion, while closeness centrality has a two-regime (“both robust and fragile”) contagion mechanism. From a policy point of view, regulators could formulate early-warning measures based on the impact mechanism and spread paths of systemic risk, especially in financial turmoil periods. Meanwhile, they should pay more attention to preventing the aggregate risks of the most influential sectors.

Predictors of White parents' racial socialization: Links to attributions for racial inequalities and views of White privilege

AbstractTo explore predictors of variations in White parents’ racial socialization messages, we collected data on racial socialization practices, attributions for racial inequalities, and views about White privilege from White parents of White children between the ages of 10 and 14 (N = 194). After controlling for education and political ideology, endorsement of external attributions for racial inequality was related to sending more frequent messages about awareness of racism and White privilege, whereas endorsement of internal attributions was related to sending more frequent messages about colorblindness and preparation for bias. Further, beliefs about White privilege were associated with socialization regarding awareness of racism and acknowledgment of White privilege and negatively related to colorblind and preparation for bias messages. Results highlight the ways in which White parents’ racial socialization approaches reflect underlying views of race and racism.

Entrepreneurship in times of economic stress: unraveling the U-shaped relationship between the internality of causal attributions and growth

PurposeThis paper examines the relationship between entrepreneurs' internality of causal attributions and firm growth during an economic crisis. We propose a U-shaped relationship between the two variables, arguing that the highest-growth entrepreneurs are those with either the highest or lowest levels of internal attribution (IA) during such periods.Design/methodology/approachTo test our hypothesis, we analyze a database of 804 interviews with entrepreneurs in Brazil during a period of economic stress. Due to the existence of endogeneity, we estimate a model of simultaneous equations in two stages.FindingsWe find evidence of a U-shaped relationship. This means that during economic stress, the fastest-growing entrepreneurs are those who rely more on their own effort (high IA) and those who attribute their success to the economic crisis (low IA).Practical implicationsTailoring interventions based on attribution patterns and recognizing the U-shaped relationship ensures effective support during economic stress. Entrepreneurial support programs should align with internality levels, emphasizing external awareness or skill development accordingly. Policymakers should take attributions into account when promoting financial resilience. Entrepreneurs would benefit from awareness programs on attributions for reflective decision-making. Ecosystems should foster collaboration by recognizing diverse attributions, enhancing a collective understanding of entrepreneurial responses in crises.Originality/valueOur results have important implications for understanding the role of entrepreneurs in economic crises. Our results are relevant because they challenge the usual claim that entrepreneurs with high IA are the ones who perform better in situations where external economic conditions are adverse.

'She is failing; he is learning': Gender-differentiated attributions for girls' and boys' errors.

According to gender-differentiated attributions of failure in the STEM field, errors tend to be attributed to internal factors more to girls than to boys. This experimental study explored factors influencing gender-differentiated teachers' internal attributions of girls' and boys' errors and the consequent likelihood of teachers' hesitancy to offer educational robotics (ER) courses to them. The predictions were as follows: (1) the likelihood of teachers' hesitancy would be related to gender-differentiated internal attributions of errors based on expectations of a low natural aptitude for girls; and (2) teachers with high levels of gender stereotypes would be more hesitant about offering ER to girls than to boys via the mediation of internal attributions of errors as being due to girls' low levels of natural aptitude for ER. In this experimental study, 155 Italian teachers (M = 38.59 years, SD = 8.20) responded to a questionnaire at the end of a course on ER in 2022. Teachers randomly read one of two vignettes describing a girl's or a boy's error during an ER course. Results of multiple regression and moderated mediation analyses confirmed both predictions. In order to reduce the gender STEM gap, the tendency to attribute girls' errors to internal and natural causes should be better inspected.

Explanation of Organizational Stress in Hotel Businesses with Attribution (Causality Attribution) Theory

This research is aimed to determine the sources of organizational stress and to associate the stress dimensions that stand out as a result of the research with attribution behavior. For this purpose, the relevant data were analyzed with the SPSS Program. The dimensions of organizational stress were determined by Explanatory Factor Analysis. As a result of the research, stress originating from the manager and employee relations, which is one of the prominent dimensions of organizational stress, has been associated with external attribution behavior. Stress stemming from organizational structure, which is another prominent dimension, has been associated with internal attribution behavior. For managing the external attribution behavior, it is necessary to provide appropriate working conditions within the enterprise. For managing internal attribution behavior, an effective communication environment should be established.

Does environmental regulation promote green technological innovation of companies? Evidence from green patents of Chinese listed companies

Abstract Environmental regulations stimulate Chinese listed companies to engage in green technology innovation. Moreover, the internal attributes of listed companies such as ownership form, the nature of the industry and locations affect the role of environmental regulations on green technology innovation. This paper selects data on Chinese-listed A-share enterprises from 2010-2019 and constructs a S-GMM model to analyze the impact of environmental regulations on green technology innovation through internal attributes of firms. The empirical results show that, first of all, in the sample period, tight environmental regulations hinder green technology innovation carried out by listed enterprises in state-owned heavy polluting industries in eastern China, and there is no innovation compensation effect. Secondly, green technology innovation in the previous period does not significantly promote green technology innovation in the current period. Finally, overvaluation of listed companies by investors encourage Chinese listed enterprises to engage in green technology innovation, especially among non-state-owned listed companies in non-heavy polluting industries. The findings of this paper provide empirical support for environmental regulation policy recommendations, that foster economic growth and promote green and low-carbon industrial transformation in the direction of high-quality development of the economy.

L'expérience subjective des femmes de diverses origines ethniques victimes d'agressions sexuelles intrafamiliales pendant l'enfance: Deux études de cas

IntroductionChild sexual abuse (under 18 years old) in women is a widespread problem in all communities, with many serious consequences. Although there are several studies concerning victims of sexual assault, few focuses on their experiences by taking ethnocultural aspects into account. Moreover, although internal attribution is common among victims, i.e., feelings of guilt and shame, few studies explore this aspect in victims from different ethno-cultural backgrounds. However, specific values in different cultures can influence the emotions victims feel and, thus their experiences. ObjectiveThis article aims to explore the experiences of victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse from different ethno-cultural backgrounds. MethodTwo case studies were carried out. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with two women from different ethnocultural backgrounds who were victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. ResultsThe results reveal some similarities between the experiences of these two volunteers, despite their diverse backgrounds, notably concerning the relationship with their mother, gender roles, cultural differences, identity issues, sexuality, feelings of shame and guilt, and consequences of sexual assault. ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of conducting more research on the subject to understand their experiences better. This will enable us to assess their needs better and provide appropriate support.

External and Internal Attribution in Human-Agent Interaction: Insights from Neuroscience and Virtual Reality

Agents are designed in the image of humans, both internally and externally. The internal systems of agents imitate the human brain, both at the levels of hardware (i.e., neuromorphic computing) and software (i.e., neural networks). Furthermore, the external appearance and behaviors of agents are designed by people and based on human data. Sometimes, these humanlike qualities of agents are purposely selected to increase their social influence over human users, and sometimes the human factors that influence perceptions of agents are hidden. Inspired by Blascovich’s “threshold of social influence’, a model designed to explain the effects of different methods of anthropomorphizing embodied agents in virtual environments, we propose a novel framework for understanding how humans’ attributions of human qualities to agents affects their social influence in human-agent interaction. The External and Internal Attributions model of social influence (EIA) builds on previous work on agent-avatars in immersive virtual reality and provides a framework to link previous social science theories to neuroscience. EIA connects external and internal attributions of agents to two brain networks related to social influence. the external perception system, and the mentalizing system. Focusing human-agent interaction research along each of the attributional dimensions of the EIA model, or at the functional integration of the two, may lead to a better understanding of the thresholds of social influence necessary for optimal human-agent interaction.

POETICAL AND GNOSTIC FEATURES OF SEYID YAHYA’S PERSIAN WORKS

The way that goes to Justice is elaborated in details in the creative work of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, a great thinker of Azerbaijan, well-known as Piri-sani (the second great murshid (the one who shows the right way) of Khalvati tariqat. By his opinion the devotionals have found that path following the hadith “My relatives are like stars. You will find the right way if you follow any of them” and saints. Saints should bring a seed of tovhid in devotionals’ spirit up to perfection. Follower in his turn should fully entrust his/her passion and spirit to murshid and should obey his/her murshid like a dead person obeys the deceaseds-washer. In ‘Kashf ul-qulub’ Seyid Yahya reveals external and internal attributes of the stages of Mind, Heart, Spirit and Passion, classifies them into avam (ignoramous), khas and ekhasse-khass stages. He mentions that the prevalence of ‘Egle-khas’ stage is that it work for discovery and observation. Such mental observation helps to find way to secrets of Justice (God). Those who are on the stage of ‘Ekhasse-khas’ want to learn the science of Truth deeply and are the closest ones to Justice (God). Those who want to reach that stage should give up their material desires and willingly seek for discovery of Justice (God). According to Seyid Yahya it is impossible to reach Justice by mental imaginations and world sciences. The fire of love is needed on this path. Despite that Seyid Yahya uses poetic symbols and metaphors in his works he specifically reveals the main provisions of Khalvati tariqat. Laconism of his works, their clear stylistics shows that they were written for newly coming followers.

메이커교육을 경험한 초등학생의 감정 탐색

This study explores the emotions of elementary school students who participated in maker education. To this end, the photovoice research method was applied to a class of fourth-grade elementary school students who had undergone maker education. The specific research procedures proposed by Latz (2018) were followed, including eight steps—identification, invitation, education, documentation, narration, ideation, presentation, and confirmation. Data was collected through photos taken by students, photo-voice writing, and interviews and subsequently analyzed in three stages: coding, classification, and topic discovery.
 Data analysis revealed a wide range of emotions experienced by elementary school students, which include anticipation, tension, anger, fatigue, and satisfaction. Examining the meaning of each emotion in detail, anticipation is characterized as 'excitement about something unfamiliar', tension as 'vague fear of failure and injury', anger as 'internal attribution to injury or repeated failure', and fatigue as 'Encountering mental and physical limitations'. Furthermore, satisfaction emerged from the theme of 'the happiness that comes immediately after completing the work'.
 These findings not only serve a diagnostic purpose for an in-depth examination of the emotions experienced by elementary school students in maker education within everyday school spaces but also provide insights for its effective application to school education, particularly in the current scenario of growing global interest in maker education as an innovative educational method. The potential impacts of these findings are expected to extend to the realm of education policy formation.

I am not the cause of this pain: An experimental study of the cognitive processes underlying causal attribution in the unpredictable situation whether negative outcomes

ObjectivesPain causal attribution is the attribution of pain causes to self or others, which may depend on one's choice of actions. The study aimed to examine how the cognitive processes of pain causal attribution as one aspect of the sense of agency change in healthy individuals based on free or forced choice, using a temporal binding (TB) experimental task. MethodsParticipants pressed keys (action) in a combined TB task, with one key having a high probability of delivering pain (with tone). In fact, only the bias between the free-choice and the forced choice conditions was manipulated. Participants estimated the time between their action and tone, with shorter intervals indicating internal attribution. ResultsInterval estimation was significantly longer in the forced-choice condition than in the free-choice condition when a pain stimulus was delivered. ConclusionsExplicit complaints of pain being caused by others may be represented in implicit cognitive processes.

Examining College Students’ Attitudes Toward Poverty During the Adult Role of the Community Action Poverty Simulation

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and Extension professionals need to understand the lived experience of poverty because it affects every aspect of an individual’s life. Poverty is related to inadequate nutrition and food insecurity, lack of access to health care, insufficient child care, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing, under-resourced schools, and a lower quality of life. Attitudes toward poverty vary widely among Americans and can be categorized as either internal/individual attributions (e.g., laziness, welfare dependency, etc.) or systemic/structural attributions (e.g., unemployment, inflation, etc.). Individuals holding internal attributions toward poverty are more likely to have negative feelings toward impoverished individuals. As such, efforts to educate FCS college students, Extension agents, and all Americans on the day-to-day reality of those in poverty are important. Extension-sponsored Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) programs are effective in changing participants’ attitudes toward poverty. This research used Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze 56 reflection papers written by college students enrolled in a family resource management course. Three themes emerged from the research: (a) empathy, (b) a turn from internal attributions, and (c) systematic attributions. This research has implications for Extension and FCS professionals offering CAPS programming in higher education settings.

Spinning an entrepreneurial career: Motivation, attribution, and the development of organizational capabilities

AbstractResearch SummaryWe inductively examine how the careers of employee entrepreneurs unfold, uncovering the role of motives and attribution for failure. Founders expressing organizational misalignment motives for leaving established organizations engaged in “venture crafting” whereby they actively sought to build well‐functioning organizations. They built successful initial ventures and careers. Founders lacking organizational misalignment motives generally founded initial ventures that failed: however, those making internal attributions altered their behaviors and built successful careers; in contrast, founders making external attributions continued founding unsuccessful ventures. These findings suggest that building organizational capabilities—and not merely inheriting capabilities from existing organizations—is a cornerstone of building successful entrepreneurial careers. Our findings are based on detailed career history and archival data on employee entrepreneurs in the disk‐drive industry.Managerial SummaryOur study follows careers of individuals leaving employment to create ventures, providing insights for entrepreneurs and managers. Though entrepreneurs often choose to focus solely on building a stellar product, our study underscores the importance of crafting well‐functioning organizations for career and venture success. Moreover, in case where initial ventures fail, founders who make internal attribution generate a “second chance” at success, whether as serial entrepreneurs or by returning to paid employment. Those who attribute failure to external factors, however, repeat their mistakes. For managers, our study reveals that the genesis of successful entrepreneurial careers is rooted in organizational deficiencies that prevent talented employees from thriving as intrapreneurs. The venture crafters typically left their jobs only after attempts to amend these issues were unsuccessful.

Development of the Delusional Interpretation Scale and examination of related variables.

Delusions are a common symptom in schizophrenia. Some scales have been developed to measure delusional tendencies in healthy people, and nonpathological delusional thinking can occur even among these individuals. The existing scales measure the presence and frequency of delusional thoughts, distress levels, and confidence levels. However, these scales are limited because they do not consider the context of the delusions (i.e., where, with whom, and when). In this study, we developed a new scale that presents detailed scenes using illustrations and sentences and measures the tendency toward delusional interpretations. Factor analysis was conducted to confirm the factor structure of the new scale. To examine the validity of the scale, we analyzed the correlations between delusional tendencies and related variables and verified the consistency between the current scale and previously developed tools. Factor analysis confirmed that the new scale has a two-factor structure, including "internal attribution and paranoid tendency" and "external attribution tendency." The new scale was found to have acceptable reliability and validity. The internal attribution and paranoid tendency factor was negatively correlated with self-esteem and decentering. Furthermore, the internal attribution and paranoid tendency factor showed a moderate positive correlation with depressive state and anxiety tendency and a very weak positive correlation with experiences of bullying or harassment. The correlations between the new scale and related variables confirmed the construct validity and replicated the results reported in previous studies. This new scale enables the measurement of delusional tendencies in healthy subjects based on the social context.

41 High Stress and Negative Attributional Style is Associated with Depression Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective:Depression is highly prevalent in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). A reformulated version of the learned helplessness theory posits that individuals who attribute the cause of negative events to personal factors (internal), perceive that the cause persists for a long period of time (stable), and believe it is present in all situations (global) are at an increased risk for depression. As such, it is critical to examine possible modifiable factors that buffer against the deleterious effects of negative attributional style. Therefore, the current study investigated whether stress moderates the relationship between negative attributional style and depression symptoms in an MS sample.Participants and Methods:Thirty-six pwMS (30 Female, 6 Male) completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and psychosocial questionnaires that assessed cognitive attributional style, daily stressors, and depression symptoms. The Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ) was used to create internal, stable, and global attribution dimension scores, as well as an overall attributional style score combining the three dimensions. Stress was quantified as the total score of perceived hassles from the Hassles and Uplifts Scale (HUS). Depression symptoms were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS). Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted with depression symptoms as the outcome variable. Each dimension of attributional style (internal, stable, global, or overall ASQ), stress, and their interactions were included as predictors. Simple effects tests were used to clarify the pattern of any significant interaction.Results:Regression analyses revealed that the interaction between overall attributional style and stress was significant (p = .025). Simple effects tests revealed that overall attributional style was associated with depression symptoms only in pwMS with high levels of stress (p = .015). For the individual dimensions of the ASQ, several interactions were also significant. The interaction between the internal dimension and stress was significant (p= .009), such that internal attributions were associated with depression symptoms only in pwMS with high levels of stress (p = .002). The interaction between the stable dimension and stress was also significant (p = .01); stable attributional style was associated with depression symptoms only in pwMS with high levels of stress (p = .009). The interaction between the global dimension and stress was not significant.Conclusions:Stress moderated the relationship between negative attributional style and depression symptoms in pwMS. Specifically, the internal and stable dimensions and overall attributional style were associated with increased depression symptoms only in pwMS who reported high levels of stress, but not in those with low levels of stress. Interventions aimed at reducing and managing stress may help protect against the effects of negative cognitive schemas on depression symptoms in MS. Additionally, previous research demonstrates that attributional style may be a malleable target of evidence-based psychotherapy (Seligman et al., 1988; Proudfoot et al., 2009). Our findings suggest that cognitive therapy specifically targeting the internal and stable dimensions of attributional style may be effective in modifying attributional style, perceptions of stress and, subsequently, improve depression outcomes in MS.