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Dissertation
Depression, self-focused attention, and the negative memory bias for life events
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
Dec 1996
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00009353
Abstract
The present study investigated whether the negative memory bias varies as a function of depression and attentional focus. One-hundred two female inpatients, outpatients, and controls underwent a manipulation of attentional focus and completed a battery of questionnaires measuring levels of depression and memories of life events and cognitions. A 3 (Group) x 2 (Attentional Focus) MANOVA was conducted to discern if there is an interaction between level of depression and attentional focus on the positivity of recall for life events and cognitions. While a significant interaction was found for the positivity of recall of recent life events and cognitions, it was not significant for the positivity of recall for life events in high school. Post-hoc analyses indicated that, as predicted, severely depressed inpatients in the self-focus condition recalled more negative recent life events and thoughts than inpatients in the external-focus condition, and no difference in the positivity of recall was found between nondepressed controls in the two experimental conditions. Contrary to prediction, no differences were found in the positivity of recall of recent negative events and cognitions between moderately depressed outpatients in the self-focus and external-focus conditions. The findings suggest that diverting attention away from the self may reduce the negative memory bias in severe depressive disorders. Moreover, the findings indicate that the degree of cognitive biases associated with depression are not purely a function of the severity of depression. Rather, the impact of depression on the negative memory bias varies as a function of attentional focus. Clinical implications, as well as potential explanations for the gender differences found in the prevalence of depressive disorders, are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- Depression, self-focused attention, and the negative memory bias for life events
- Creators
- Christine Ratto
- Awarding Institution
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- viii, 138 unnumbered pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (1996-1998); Clinical and Health Psychology [Historical]; School of Health Professions (1996-1998)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888779304721