Abstract
Objectives: Theoretical models and empirical studies of depression have predominately focused on the main effects of various predictors such as rumination and overlooked potential moderating processes. This study examined the moderating role of executive functioning in the relationship between rumination and depression in children.
Methods: One hundred and twenty-two children (39.3% female) aged from 9 to 14 (M = 12.16, SD = 1.38) completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Rumination Response Scale, and some Stroop Interference tests as a measure of executive functioning. The children completed the depression measure again at one-year follow-up.
Results: A moderated regression analysis showed that executive functioning significantly moderated the prospective relationship between rumination and depression while controlling for age, gender, and baseline depression, such that the association between rumination and depression was weaker when executive functioning was higher.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that high executive functioning may serve as a protective factor that buffers the negative effects of rumination on depression, suggesting that executive functioning training may help ruminators reduce depressive symptoms.
Methods: One hundred and twenty-two children (39.3% female) aged from 9 to 14 (M = 12.16, SD = 1.38) completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, Rumination Response Scale, and some Stroop Interference tests as a measure of executive functioning. The children completed the depression measure again at one-year follow-up.
Results: A moderated regression analysis showed that executive functioning significantly moderated the prospective relationship between rumination and depression while controlling for age, gender, and baseline depression, such that the association between rumination and depression was weaker when executive functioning was higher.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that high executive functioning may serve as a protective factor that buffers the negative effects of rumination on depression, suggesting that executive functioning training may help ruminators reduce depressive symptoms.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 2 Dec 2020 |
Event | 24th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions - Virtual, Singapore Duration: 2 Dec 2020 → 4 Dec 2020 |
Conference
Conference | 24th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions |
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Abbreviated title | IACAPAP 2020 |
Country/Territory | Singapore |
Period | 2/12/20 → 4/12/20 |