The McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) dimensions involved in the prediction of adolescent depressive symptoms and their mediating role in regard to socioeconomic status.

Family functioning plays an important role in explaining the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents and it is necessary to identify the family functioning characteristics responsible for this relationship. In turn, while socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with adolescent depressive symptoms, the mechanisms that explain this relationship are largely unknown. In this study, we used the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) to obtain a picture of the family functioning dimensions that genuinely contribute to explaining the relationship between family functioning and adolescent depressive symptoms and analyzed the mediating effect of family functioning on the impact of SES on depressive symptoms. Regression-based conditional process analysis was used with a sample of 636 adolescents aged 12-17 years. Pratt's measures in regression analyses showed that 95% of the variance in depressive symptoms was accounted for by three of the six FAD dimensions: the ability to experience and express emotions appropriately-Affective Responsiveness-the ability to maintain adequate involvement among family members-Affective Involvement-and the ability to set and abide by rules and standards of behavior-Behavioral Control. Results also showed that the impact of SES on depressive symptoms was mediated by the existence of clear expectations about standards of behavior and behavioral patterns for handling family tasks-Behavioral Control and Roles-and, for the boys, by experiencing and expressing emotions appropriately. The results emphasize the importance of affect and clear-cut family rules to prevent adolescent depressive symptoms and suggest that the existence of family rules and roles buffer the impact of SES on adolescent wellbeing.

Development and validation of an attributional style questionnaire for adolescents.

We describe the development and psychometric characteristics of a new version of the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Seligman, Abramson, Semmell, & Von Baeyer, 1979)--a version called the Attributional Style Questionnaire for Adolescents (ASQ-A)--using 3 samples (Ns = 547, 438, and 240) of Spanish secondary school students. In Study 1, the initial pool of 87 items was reduced to 54. Study 2 further analyzed the 54 scale items and revealed that the Internality, Stability, and Globality subscale scores had good reliability, good factorial construct validity, and satisfactory associations with maladaptive mood ratings. In Study 3, the regression analyses showed good and specific predictive validities of ASQ-A subscales for the attributions that the adolescents made about a particular real-life stressful situation. Study 4 showed that over an 8-month period the changes in the Stability and Globality subscales depended on the intensity of stressful life events experienced in this period. Overall, the studies revealed that the new ASQ-A served as an appropriate instrument to assess attributional style in adolescents.

Autoestima en la adolescencia: análisis y estrategias de intervención / Self-Esteem in Adolescence: Analysis and Intervention Strategies

This paper reviews the current state of research on self-esteem by focusing on the factors that are relevant for the intervention in adolescents. Firstly, a conceptual distinction is made between self-concept, self-esteem and the perception of self-worth, and the relationship between them is analysed. It also considers the functioning of self-esteem on the basis of the contingencies of reinforcement and reviews their effects on the cognitive styles and behavioural coping. Secondly, it reviews the course of self-esteem on the basis of gender and discusses the role that contingencies of reinforcement play on its decline and instability during early adolescence. Thirdly, it reviews the findings that show the relationship of the shortcomings of self-esteem and the generation of a series of behavioural, emotional and health problems. Finally, the findings of the research on the intervention in self-esteem are reviewed, and the most useful strategies to help promote a change in teenagers are discussed (AU)

En este artículo se revisa el estado actual de la investigación sobre autoestima centrándose en los factores que son relevantes para la intervención en adolescentes. En primer lugar, se realiza una distinción conceptual y se analizan las relaciones entre autoconcepto, autoestima y percepción de autovalía. Se analiza también el funcionamiento de la autoestima en base a las contingencias de reforzamiento y se revisan sus efectos en los estilos cognitivos y conductuales de afrontamiento. En segundo lugar, se revisa la trayectoria de la autoestima en función del género y se analiza el papel que juegan las contingencias de reforzamiento en su disminución e inestabilidad durante la adolescencia temprana. En tercer lugar, se revisan los hallazgos que muestran la relación entre las deficiencias de autoestima y la generación de una serie de problemas de conducta, emocionales y de salud. Por último, se revisan los hallazgos sobre la intervención en autoestima y se analizan las estrategias más útiles para su cambio en la adolescencia (AU)