DISTINGUISHING AMONG ANTECEDENTS, CONCOMITANTS, AND CONSEQUENCES OF PROBLEM-SOLVING APPRAISAL AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

In the present study, a prospective design was used and data were coll ected from 277 introductory Psychology students to distinguish among t he antecedents, concomitants, and consequences of problem-solving appr aisal and depression. The results of structural equation path analyses provide preliminary evidence that self-appraised ineffective problem- solving ability is an antecedent that may play a causal role in predic ting future depressive symptoms. However, the results also suggest tha t problem-solving appraisal is a concomitant of depressive symptoms su ch that the experience of depressive symptoms may cause temporary defi cits in self-appraisal of problem-solving ability.