22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Prediction of Weekly Psychosocial Functioning from Depressive Mood
Sara M. Bozeman*, Nicole D. Sharp, Jennifer D. Schmidt, Nicholas Boice, Jordan Constance, and Saed D. Hill
Dr. Jeffrey Vittengl, Faculty Mentor
Depressive symptoms predict poor psychosocial functioning (e.g., at work, social relationships), but the connection is stronger for some undergraduates than for others (Vittengl, Bozeman, Honts, Schmidt, & Sharp, 2007). We tested the hypothesis that the connection between functioning and symptoms is stronger for persons with a more negative attributional style (ascribing negative life events to internal, stable, and global causes), lower social support (fewer, and less satisfaction with, friends and family), and lower distress tolerance (poorer recognition, acceptance, and regulation of emotion). Undergraduates (N = 148) completed six weekly assessments with standardized questionnaires. Depressive symptoms predicted psychosocial impairment, and both variables correlated significantly with negative attributional style, social support and distress tolerance. However, we found no support for our hypothesis. Instead, we found that persons with positive attributional style (e.g., believing good things happen to me because I make them happen) and low depressive symptoms have especially good psychosocial functioning.
Keywords: mood, psychosocial functioning, depression, personality
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 3-4
Location: PML
Time: 4:15