Optimism as a protective factor in child and adolescent depression

Résumé

This paper shows that an optimistic explanatory style consisting in explaining positive situations through permanent and global attributions and negative situations through temporary and specific attributions is significantly related to lower depressive symptoms. The implications of these results are discussed in the light of the reformulated model of learned helplessness (Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978) and the hopelessness theory (Abramson, Metalsky, & Alloy, 1989). The paper also suggests taking into account new constructs that can be influential, such as explanatory flexibility, selfperceived control over stressful situations and the importance given to them. Girls show a more optimistic explanatory style than boys in preadolescence, and children aged over 10 score higher in depression.