Hopelessness predicts future depressive symptoms: A prospective analysis of cognitive vulnerability and cognitive content specificity

Abstract

Beck's content specificity hypothesis predicts distinct cognitive content within specific psychological disorders. We evaluated whether the third component of the "cognitive triad," negative view of the future (hopelessness), would be related 4 weeks later to depressive symptoms, but not to anxiety. University student participants (83 females, 71 males) were tested on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory at two points in time, separated by 4 weeks. The Hopelessness Scale was administered at time 1 and a Life Events Inventory at time 2. Concurrent cognitive content specificity was replicated. For males only, hopelessness predicted future depression severity scores, but not anxiety. Hopelessness predicted depressive symptoms over and above life event stressors, but not vice versa.

The link between depressive symptoms, negative cognitive bias and memory complaints in older adults

“…Previous research has found depressive symptoms to be associated with self-perceived memory loss (La Rue et al, 1996), hopelessness (Alford, Lester, Patel, Buchanan, & Giunta, 1995;Beevers & Miller, 2004), death thoughts (Draper, MacCuspie-Moore, & Brodaty, 1998;Forsell, Jorm, & Winblad, 1997;Jorm et al, 1995;Scocco, Meneghel, Caon, Dello Buono, & De Leo, 2001) and low self-esteem (Andrews & Brown, 1995;Brown, Andrews, Harris, Adler, & Bridge, 1986;Brown, Bifulco, & Andrews, 1990a;Brown, Bifulco, Veiel, & Andrews, 1990b). Beck's theory of depression described depressed persons as having distorted negative perceptions of themselves, their world and their future (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979;Blackburn & Eunson, 1989).…”

“…Extensive research has found strong associations between depressive symptoms and hopelessness (Alford et al, 1995;Beevers & Miller, 2004), death thoughts (Draper et al, 1998;Forsell et al, 1997;Jorm et al, 1995;Scocco et al, 2001) and low self-esteem (Andrews & Brown, 1995;Brown et al, 1986;) both individually and as part of Beck's negative cognitive triad. Hopelessness is intimately linked to late-life depressive symptoms (Adams, Matto, & Sanders, 2004).…”

“…Consistent with previous research, depressive symptoms and negative cognitive bias were strongly correlated in older adults (Alford et al, 1995;Andrews & Brown, 1995;Beevers & Miller, 2004;Draper et al, 1998;Forsell et al, 1997;Jorm et al, 1995;Jungwirth et al, 2004;La Rue et al, 1996;Pearman & Storandt, 2004;Scocco et al, 2001). Extensive research has found strong associations between depressive symptoms and hopelessness (Alford et al, 1995;Beevers & Miller, 2004), death thoughts (Draper et al, 1998;Forsell et al, 1997;Jorm et al, 1995;Scocco et al, 2001) and low self-esteem (Andrews & Brown, 1995;Brown et al, 1986;) both individually and as part of Beck's negative cognitive triad.…”

Depression, Family Support and Hopelessness: a correlated study

“…Authors like Abramson et al (1989), Alford et al (1995), Alloy et al (1999) and Panzarella et al (2006) had already found associations among these constructs where was reported hopelessness as a potential factor for triggering of depression. Tovar, Ríos, Díaz, León, and Vereau (2006) in their study found a correlation with the BDI and BHS of 0.46 whereas in the current study, we obtained a correlation with the BHS EBADEP-A was 0.42.…”

“…Thus, these studies pointed to the importance of identify factors that may predispose individuals to major depressive disorder and consequently, hopelessness, because as verified, hopelessness is related to major depression and also with suicide (Abramson et al, 1989;Alford et al, 1995;Page et al, 2006). Montoya et al (2003) studied the relationship between suicidal ideation and hopelessness in 78 patients who had suicidal ideation (G1) and 89 who had no suicidal ideation (G2), applying the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS).…”