Relations between three components of parenting and young adolescent's depressive symptoms were studied in a sample of240 mothers and children (Mean child age = 11. 87, SD = .57). Mothers were selected for having a range of psychopathology (77% had a history of mood disorders). Mothers and children each completed the Children's Rating of Parental Behavior Inventory (CRPBI), which yields three parenting dimensions: acceptance/rejection, autonomy/psychological control, and firm/lax control. Mothers and children also completed a questionnaire and an interview about the child's depressive symptoms during the previous 2 weeks. Three composite parenting scores were created by combining mothers' and children's ratings on each CRPBI subscale, and a composite depression score was based on the children 's, mothers', and clinicians 'ratings of the child's depressive symptoms. Maternal acceptance showed a significant negative relation to depressive symptoms, and maternal psychological control was positively associated with depressive symptoms. These relations were mediated partially through the child's perceived self-worth.

This study examined direct and stress-moderating effects of attributional style and global self-worth on depressive and externalizing symptoms in adolescents. Attributional style, perceived self-worth, depressive symptoms, and externalizing behaviors were assessed in 371 students in the spring of 6th grade. After the transition to 7th grade, they again completed measures of depression and externalizing symptoms as well as measures of negative life events and school hassles. Stressors around the transition predicted both depressive and externalizing behaviors. Perceived self-worth predicted depressive symptoms, but not externalizing behaviors. Attributional style directly and in interaction with stressors predicted depressive symptoms and did not predict externalizing behavior. A 3-way interaction between stress, attributional style, and self-worth suggested that level of perceived self-worth may moderate the effects of attributional style in times of stress.

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