ATTRIBUTIONS FOR REAL AND HYPOTHETICAL EVENTS - DO THEY PREDICT DEPRESSION

Attributional models of depression propose that a negative attribution al style is a vulnerability feature in depression, but opinions differ as to whether to assess attributional style for hypothetical or actua l events. The present longitudinal study examined whether attributions for hypothetical and real events predicted concurrent and delayed dys phoria. At Time 1, students made attributions for hypothetical events (Attributional Style Questionnaire) and real events (Attribution Quest ionnaire), and completed measures of dysphoria (Beck Depression Invent ory). One month later they repeated the Attribution Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. Attributions for real events formed the strongest single predictor of current dysphoria, whereas attributions for hypothetical events comprised the strongest single predictor of l ater dysphoria. The combination of attributions for hypothetical event s at Time 1 and attributions for real events at Time 2 provided the st rongest overall predictor of depression at Time 2. These findings have several implications for the attributional models of depression.