Alloy et al. (1999)

Aim

To investigate whether a particular cognitive style (positive or negative) is associated with subsequent development of depressive symptoms.

Method

347 first-year american college students without a history of mental illness

completed questionnaire to identify their thinking/ cognitive style, classified as either ‘High risk’ or ‘Low risk’ where High risk was a overall more negative thinking style and was predicted to be at a higher risk of developing depression.

Follow-up assessments were conducted every 6 weeks for 2.5 years and then every 4 months for an additional 3 years; the study included self-report and structured interview assessments of stressful life events, cognitions, and mental illness.

Findings

Overall High risk freshmen were more likely to develop mental illnesses such as Major depressive disorder. First onset of MDD in high risk freshmen was 17%, while in low risk freshmen this was 1%

Use

This shows that as freshmen who have thinking styles classified as high risk were more likely to develop MDD than those with thinking styles which were low risk, that ones thinking style has an impact on whether one is likely to develop depression. Negative thinking styles thus are an explanation of why people develop depression.

Strengths

As the study was longitudinal the long term effects of a negative cognitive thinking style could be examined as well as the development of MDD

Through the use of a standardised questionnaire cognitive style was determined, this removes subjectiveness and makes it more replicable.

Limitations

we can’t be certain that cognitive styles promote depression because the data is correlational

only first year american college students were part of the sample this is not representative of the overall population. Development of MDD in young ppl in USA may have distinct causes than depression in other age or ethnic groups.