The role of negative automatic thoughts on stress-related processes and symptoms of depression.

摘要

Although stressful life events have frequently been associated with the evolution of depression, not all individuals who encounter such events develop this pathology. In fact, the impact of stressful events on psychopathology may, in part, be contingent on the way individuals appraise and cope with such experiences. In line with this hypothesis, results of the present study, using a student sample (N = 142 male and 335 female), indicated that negative appraisals, along with dysfunctional evaluations and endorsement of coping were associated with heightened depressive symptoms. Although many factors may contribute to appraisal and coping processes, it seems that negative appraisals and maladaptive coping may be related to persistent negative automatic thoughts. In support of this suggestion, increased frequency of negative thoughts was associated with negative appraisal tendencies, dysfunctional assessment of coping, and increased engagement of emotion-focused coping strategies at the expense of problem-focused coping methods. Given the relation between negative automatic thoughts, appraisal, coping, and ultimately, depression, determining how these negative cognitions emerge in the first place may be of particular significance. As revealed by the present investigation, the presence of early life trauma may be one process that contributes to the formulation of negative thoughts and increases the risk for depressive pathology.