TY - JOUR
T1 - Interpersonal vulnerability to depression in high-risk children
T2 - The role of insecure attachment and reassurance seeking
AU - Abela, John R.Z.
AU - Hankin, Benjamin L.
AU - Haigh, Emily A.P.
AU - Adams, Philippe
AU - Vinokuroff, Theresa
AU - Trayhern, Lisa
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - This study examined the relation between insecure attachment and depression in a sample of 140 children (69 boys and 71 girls; ages 6 to 14) whose parents have a history of major depressive episodes. In addition, we examined whether this relation was moderated by excessive reassurance seeking. Children completed measures assessing insecure attachment to parents, excessive reassurance seeking, and current depressive symptoms. In addition, children and their parents participated in a semistructured clinical interview assessing children's current and past history of depressive symptoms and episodes. In line with hypotheses, children who exhibited high levels of both insecure attachment and excessive reassurance seeking experienced higher levels of current depressive symptoms than children who possessed only one or neither of these interpersonal risk factors. Furthermore, the interaction of insecure attachment with excessive reassurance was associated with a past history and greater severity of depressive episodes even after controlling for current depressive symptoms.
AB - This study examined the relation between insecure attachment and depression in a sample of 140 children (69 boys and 71 girls; ages 6 to 14) whose parents have a history of major depressive episodes. In addition, we examined whether this relation was moderated by excessive reassurance seeking. Children completed measures assessing insecure attachment to parents, excessive reassurance seeking, and current depressive symptoms. In addition, children and their parents participated in a semistructured clinical interview assessing children's current and past history of depressive symptoms and episodes. In line with hypotheses, children who exhibited high levels of both insecure attachment and excessive reassurance seeking experienced higher levels of current depressive symptoms than children who possessed only one or neither of these interpersonal risk factors. Furthermore, the interaction of insecure attachment with excessive reassurance was associated with a past history and greater severity of depressive episodes even after controlling for current depressive symptoms.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=13944251048&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=13944251048&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1207/s15374424jccp3401_17
DO - 10.1207/s15374424jccp3401_17
M3 - Article
C2 - 15677292
AN - SCOPUS:13944251048
SN - 1537-4416
VL - 34
SP - 182
EP - 192
JO - Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
JF - Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
IS - 1
ER -