Depressive Experiences of Nonreferred Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

The cognitive theory of depression proposed by Beck and the cognitive developmental theory proposed by Piaget provided the theoreticalframeworks for an exploratory and developmentally based investigation of the depressive experiences of nonreferred adolescents and young adults. Specifically, the students'experiences of depressive symptomatology and expressions of hopelessness were examined as a function of their stage of cognitive development (i.e., concrete operations vs. formal operational thought). Participating in the present study were 107 high school, community college, and university students. The students completed several self-report measures designed to assess their levels of depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, and cognitive development. Contrary to theoretical expectations, students classified as functioning within the concrete operational stage were found to report a greater frequency and severity of depressive symptomatology, as well as higher levels of hopelessness, than were those classified within the formal operational stage. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed.