The contributions of attributional style, expectancies, depression, and self-esteem in a cognition-based depression model

Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relations among attributional style, outcome expectancies for future life-events, depression, and self-esteem in an undergraduate population (N = 195). Consistent with the hopelessness and self-regulation theories of depression, the first series of models illustrated that positive attributional styles (PAS) and negative attributional styles (NAS) had direct influences on expectancies, and that expectancies had a direct influence on depression. However, contrary to predictions of self-regulation theory, a NAS influenced depression independent of one's expectancies for the future. A second series of models, which included the latent construct of self-esteem, showed that the previously modeled relations showing a PAS and a NAS having direct influence on expectancies and expectancies having a direct inverse effect on depression remained consistent. As suggested by self-regulation theory, a PAS had an indirect positive influence on self-esteem via expectancies. However, a PAS also had a direct positive effect on self-esteem, an unexpected finding according to self-regulation theory. The final model also showed that self-esteem was inversely influenced by depression. Results are discussed in terms of pertinent theory and methodological limitations.