ATTACHMENT, DEPRESSOTYPIC COGNITIONS, AND DYSPHORIA

Prior research has identified dysfunctional attitudes and depressotypi c attributional style as potential cognitive vulnerabilities to depres sion. The origins of these cognitive vulnerabilities, however are unkn own. The present study was conducted to determine whether perceived at tachment to one's primary caregiver in childhood was associated with e ndorsement of dysfunctional attitudes and depressotypic attributional style in adulthood. Results from 104 undergraduates suggested that (a) perceived attachment was related to dysfunctional attitudes (but not to depressotypic attributional style); and (b) perceived attachment dy sfunctional attitudes, and depressotypic attributional style were rela ted to dysphoria. Moreover the relation between perceived attachment a nd dysphoria was partially mediated by dysfunctional attitudes regardi ng Performance Evaluation and Approval of Others.