Jm. Tram et Da. Cole, Self-perceived competence and the relation between life events and depressive symptoms in adolescence: Mediator or moderator?, J ABN PSYCH, 109(4), 2000, pp. 753-760
In a 2-wave longitudinal study, 9th-grade students (N = 468) completed self
-report measures of stressful life events. depressive symptoms, and 5 domai
ns of self-perceived competence (i.e.. academic competence, social acceptan
ce. physical appearance, behavioral conduct, and athletic competence). Teac
hers and peers also reported about the participants' depressive symptoms. I
n longitudinal analyses, negative (but not positive) events related to depr
essive symptoms. Results suggested that self-perceived competence served as
a mediator (but nor a moderator) of this relation. Negative events predict
ed changes in self-perceived competence. Self-perceived competence predicte
d changes in depressive symptoms. Also, the direct effect of negative event
s on depressive symptoms diminished after controlling for self-perceived co
mpetence.