Psychological, Cognitive, and Interpersonal Correlates of Attributional Change in Adolescents

The role of attributional style in adolescents’ psychological functioning was examined, specifically the cross-sectional correlates of attributional style & the correlates of changes in attributional style over time. A sample of 841 adolescents with either maladaptive or adaptive attributional styles completed a battery of self-report measures at 2 points in time, 1 year apart. Measures assessed depressive symptoms & suicidality, cognitive functioning, & interpersonal functioning. Results indicated attributional style is associated with multiple depression-related variables. Youth experienced significant changes in their attributional styles over time. Changes in attributional style were associated with changes in psychological symptoms & other psychosocial variables. (55 refs.)