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Abstract
Objectives
The present study examines the role of dependency (interpersonal relatedness) and self‐criticism (self‐definition) in internalising and externalising problems.
Methods
Three hundred forty‐six suburban Portuguese high‐school students age 14–18 (mean = 16.14, standard deviation = 1.19) responded to the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire and the Youth Self‐Report. The impact of depression, measured by the Children's Depression Inventory, on the relationship of dependency and self‐criticism on internalising and externalising problem behaviours was examined.
Results
Both self‐criticism and dependency, controlled for level of depression, were associated with internalising behaviour problems in both girls and boys. Gender differences, however, were observed in externalising problems. Externalising problems in boys were also associated with self‐criticism. But externalising problems in girls were not associated with psychological variables and thus may be more a function of environmental rather than psychological factors.
Conclusions
Implications of these findings for intervention are discussed.
Abstract
This article is based in part on the third author's master thesis under the supervision of the first author. Grateful thanks are extended to all of the participants in this study.
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: None.
This article is based in part on the third author's master thesis under the supervision of the first author. Grateful thanks are extended to all of the participants in this study.
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: None.
Notes
This article is based in part on the third author's master thesis under the supervision of the first author. Grateful thanks are extended to all of the participants in this study.
Funding: None.
Conflict of interest: None.
1. Given that the present study investigates clinical phenomenon in a nonclinical sample, it seems important to examine whether variables are normally distributed. Therefore, we examined this issue in the first stage. We used the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and the chi‐square to test normality. These tests indicated no significant differences between the empirical distribution and the expected normal distribution indicating that the distribution of these variables was not significantly different from normality for the DEQ‐A variables.