Background: The likelihood of developing depression increases throughout adolescence.
Aims: Understanding the relative contribution of psychosocial and cognitive variables to depressive symptoms during the transitional stage of late adolescence should increase the scope for effective prevention and intervention.
Method: The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), Adolescents' Cognitive Style (ACSQ), Relationship Rating Scales (RRS), The Life Events Checklist, and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were completed by 140 adolescents aged 16-18 years.
Results: Alienation from parents and peers, helpless attributional style, gender, and perceived criticism from teachers contributed significantly to variance in scores for depressive symptoms. Negative self-inference and helpless attributions moderated the relationship between perceived criticism and depression in male participants.
Conclusions: Different approaches to intervention may be more successful for males and females.