Gregory, Alice M.; Rijsdijk, Fruhling V.; Lau, Jennifer Y. F.; McGuffin, Peter; Napolitano, Maria and Eley, Thalia C.. 2007. Genetic and environmental influences on interpersonal cognitions and associations with depressive symptoms in 8-year old twins. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116, pp. 762-775. [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Less is known about depression in children than in adults. This study integrates fields by combining cognitive and interpersonal research investigating childhood depression symptoms through the use of a genetic framework. Three research questions are addressed. First, what are the associations among interpersonal cognitions, anxiety, and depression? Second, what are the relative magnitudes of genetic and environmental influences on interpersonal cognitions? Third, to what extent do genetic and environmental influences explain associations between interpersonal cognitions and depression? Three hundred pairs of 8-year-old twins reported on symptoms of depression and anxiety by completing the Children's Depression Inventory and the Screen for Childhood Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders. The authors examined interpersonal cognitions with the Children's Expectation of Social Behaviors and the Perceptions of Peers and Self Questionnaires. Interpersonal cognitions were more strongly correlated with depression (mean r = .35) than with anxiety (mean r = .13). Genetic influence on interpersonal cognitions was small (M = 3%), and associations between interpersonal cognitions and depression were mainly explained by environmental influences. These latter findings may result from interpersonal cognitions in young children, reflecting life experiences as opposed to trait-like cognitive biases.

Item Type:	Article
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology
Dates:	Date Event 2007 Published
Item ID:	7276
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2012 14:50
Last Modified:	30 Jun 2017 15:19
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/7276

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