PERCEIVED STRESS, LIFE EVENTS, DYSFUNCTIONAL ATTITUDES, AND DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

Hewitt, Flett, and Mosher (1992) examined the factor structure of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and its relation to depression in adult p sychiatric patients. This study sought to replicate and extend their f indings, using a sample of 203 adolescent psychiatric inpatients. All patients admitted to the adolescent unit in a psychiatric hospital ove r a 3-year period were administered the PSS, as well as measures of de pression, life events, dysfunctional attitudes, and intellectual abili ties. Consistent with Hewitt et al., two factors were found in the PSS , reflecting perceived distress and perceived coping ability. Regressi on analyses indicated that, for males, both factors account for indepe ndent variance in depression, whereas for females, only the distress f actor is related to depression. In addition, for both male and female, dysfunctional attitudes account for significant variance in depressio n in addition to PSS, but negative life events do not. None of the var iables were related to intellectual abilities. Implications for clinic al assessment and intervention are discussed.