A test of interpersonal theory of depression in youth psychiatric inpatients

Coyne's (1976b) interpersonal theory of depression postulated that the comb ination of depressive symptoms and excessive reassurance-seeking leads to i nterpersonal problems (e.g., loneliness, devaluation). The present study is one of the first to test this model among youth, particularly a clinical s ample of youth. Sixty-eight youth psychiatric inpatients (35 girls; 33 boys ; mean age = 13.34 years, SD = 2.50) completed self-report measures of exce ssive reassurance-seeking, depressive symptoms, and interpersonal rejection . Results conformed to the hypothesis: The statistical interaction of exces sive reassurance-seeking and depressive symptoms predicted interpersonal re jection, such that high-reassurance-seeking youth with depressive symptoms reported the most interpersonal rejection. Implications of the findings for interpersonal theory of depression in youngsters are discussed.