Haeffel et al. (2008)

Aim

To investigate whether thinking style and risk for depression can be influenced by the people around you.

Method

103 roommate pairs took part, these had been randomly assigned to be roommates

within first month on campus participants completed an online questionaire on their cognitive vulnerability, and depressive symptoms. this was baseline assessment

3 months later and 6 months later they completed the same online questioniare again, with the addition of a stressful life events measure.

Findings

There was no correlation between roommates cognitive styles at baseline

Participants assigned to a roommate with high initial cognitive vulnerability were likely to experience increases in their own level of cognitive vulnerability

Participants whose roommates had low initial levels of cognitive vulnerability were likely to experience decreases in their own cognitive vulnerability

those with high cognitive vulnerability were likely to develop MDD

after 6 months, the students who showed an increase in cognitive vulnerability after 3 months had almost double the degree of depressive symptoms as those who did not.

Use

The social environment, particularly the individuals you spend a lot of time with can have an impact on your cognitive style. Cognitive style is not a fixed attribute, rather, it can vary based on the circumstance and social context.

individuals who shared a room with a roommate who had high cognitive sensitivity and negative thinking patterns also developed negative thinking patterns and became more vulnerable to depression.

Supports Beck's Cognitive Theory of depression in that negative thinking patterns are a root cause for depression. Findings do also suggest that thinking patterns aren't fixed and can vary/be altered based on the environment and social factors.

Strengths

Due to longitudinal nature the long term effects of a cognitive style can be seen, how these may change and the development of depression and depressive symptoms

Online and anonymous questionnaire → more honest about mental health and struggles.

Limitations

More research on different age and cultural groups is needed to see whether these findings can be applied to other populations, as the sample consisted only of American college students.

Self report data may be unreliable and biased.