PEER INTERACTIONS OF DYSPHORIC ADOLESCENTS

The present study sought to extend our knowledge of dysphoric adolesce nts' dyadic peer interactions. Thirty female dyads (ages 13-17) were v ideotaped interacting during both a structured and an unstructured tas k. Fourteen of the dyads were each comprised of a dysphoric girl and a nondysphoric girl; the remaining dyads were comprised of two nondysph oric girls. Girls were considered dysphoric if they scored 10 or highe r on the Beck Depression Inventory. Dysphoric subjects evaluated their performances more negatively than nondysphoric subjects and rated the ir partners more negatively overall. The partners of the dysphoric gir ls were viewed by raters as less positive and less happy. They saw the dysphoric teens as making more critical comments and evaluated them m ore negatively overall. There was also a tendency for these girls to r eject their dysphoric partners and to become more passive during the u nstructured task. The findings indicate that dysphoric adolescent girl s evoke negative reactions from peers and negatively influence their p eers' behavior. These negative reactions from others may lead to furth er difficulties in negotiating the developmental task of adolescence.