Early predictors of helpless thoughts and behaviors in children: Developmental precursors to depressive cognitions

David A. Cole, Dana E. Warren, Danielle H. Dallaire, Beth Lagrange, Rebekah Travis, Jeffrey A. Ciesla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Learned helplessness behavior and cognitions were assessed in 95 kindergarten-age children during a series of impossible puzzle trials followed by a solvable puzzle trial. Latent growth curve analysis revealed reliable individual differences in the trajectories of children's affect, motivation, and self-cognitions over time. Parents' reports of negative life events, harsh/negative parenting, and warm/positive parenting were associated with their children's learned helplessness behavioral trajectories and outcomes over the course of the puzzle trials. Results support speculations about the developmental origins of depressive explanatory or attributional style in children.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)295-312
Number of pages18
JournalClinical child psychology and psychiatry
Volume12
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2007

Keywords

  • Attributional style
  • Children
  • Cognitive style
  • Depression
  • Explanatory style
  • Learned helplessness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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