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Regulation of depressive affect and interpersonal behavior among children requiring residential or day treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2009

Mary P. Breen  and
Daniel A. Weinberger
Mary P. Breen
Affiliation:
Daniel A. Weinberger, Case Western Reserve University
Daniel A. Weinberger*
Affiliation:
Daniel A. Weinberger, Case Western Reserve University
*
Daniel A. Weinberger, Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, 109 Mather Memorial Building, 11220 Bellflower Road, Cleveland, OH 44106–7123.
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Abstract

Depression is often associated with social withdrawal. However, especially among children from traumatic backgrounds, dysphoric affect may also be manifested by increased demands for social contact. The present research employed intensive observations, children's self-reports, and therapist and staff ratings to investigate associations between affect regulation and interpersonal behavior among 32 emotionally disturbed children (ages 7 to 12 years) in residential or day treatment. As predicted, children who reported dysphoric moods on the Children's Depression Inventory (Kovacs, 1980/81) were most socially engaged and presented themselves as relatively vulnerable and dependent on others. These children not only expressed more overt sadness but also exhibited higher rates of excited/hyperactive behavior. The subgroup of children who were most prone to deny even normative levels of negative affect were least interpersonally involved as well as least impulsive. The results highlight the importance of individual differences in coping with traumatic relationship histories and the need for further study of the interplay between affect and interpersonal behavior in childhood psychopathology.

Type
Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , Summer 1995 , pp. 529 - 541
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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