The Conceptualization of the Positive Cognitive Triad and Associations with Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents

Abstract

Depressive symptoms during adolescence have been found to be associated with negative outcomes such as decreased academic performance, absenteeism, substance abuse, and poor physical health. The positive cognitive triad has been considered to be a protective factor against adolescent depressive symptoms. The positive cognitive triad is made up of three subfactors of cognitions, specifically, positive cognitions about the self, the world, and the future. This dissertation examined the various conceptualizations of the positive cognitive triad and their relation to depressive symptoms. These conceptualizations included considering the positive cognitive triad as a single overall protective factor (additive model), as multiple possible protective factors made up of the subfactors of the positive cognitive triad (independent factor model), and as considering the most positive subfactor as the most meaningful protective factor (strongest link model). Two samples were used in order to replicate and provide evidence for the validity of findings. Two samples (n1 = 2982; n2 = 2540) of Australian adolescents completed the Positive Cognitive Triad Inventory and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate models representing CHAPTER I OVERVIEW OF DEPRESSION AND THE COGNITIVE TRIAD IN ADOLESCENTS Depression in Adolescents Adolescent depression is an international concern (Patel, 2015). In the United States alone, around 3 million adolescents had a major depressive episode in 2015, which affected three times as many females as males (SAMHSA, 2017). By 18 years of age, 22-27% of adolescents have experienced depressive symptoms during their lifetime, if not a major depressive episode (Bertha & Balázs, 2013; Kessler, Petukhova, Sampson, Zaslavsky, & Wittchen, 2012). Specific to Australia, 25% of adolescents reported being "not happy," "sad," or even "very sad" when reporting their overall satisfaction with life (Cave, Fildes, Luckett, & Wearring, 2015). Annual rates of major depressive disorder increase over time for both males and females during adolescence (Lawrence et al., 2016). Outcomes Associated with Adolescent Depression Adolescent depression has implications for both adolescents' current and future functioning. One in 10 Australian adolescents report that mental health concerns are significant barriers to reaching their goals related to employment or schooling (Cave et al., 2015). Adolescents with depression are at risk for decreased academic performance, including decreased homework completion and lower class attendance (Humensky et al., 2008). Further, depression is the reason for more missed days of school than any other CURRICULUM VITA

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