Abstract
M.A. (Social psychology)
The purpose of this study was to determine whether parental
rejection and a characteristic attributional style contribute
to childhood depression.
After a review of existing literature on the relationship
between depression,parental rejection and attributional
style, it was hypothesized that parental rejection and attributional
style would affect childhood depression, and
therefore contribute to childhood depression.
In order to test the hypothesis, children and their parents
were tested. Out of the initial sample, 50 depressed and 50
non-depressed children as well as their parents undergone
further tests. The tests used in this study were the CDI,
DSRS, PPI and the KASTAN for the children, and the BDI, ASQ
and the PARI for the parents.
The results of this study indicated that parental rejection
does contribute to childhood depression. There was, however,
not much support provided by the data for the contribution
of a characteristic attributional style to childhood depression.
This would imply that further research in this area
is necessary.