Incremental Theories of Depression Predict Greater Endorsement of Psychotherapies

Abstract

The current studies investigated whether beliefs in the malleability or immutability of depression (i.e., incremental and entity implicit theories of depression, respectively) are predictive of a greater endorsement of interventions for depression. Study 1 (N = 235) assessed implicit theories of depression and the endorsement of therapeutic lifestyle changes and of validated psychotherapies for depression. Regression analyses showed that incremental beliefs regarding depression significantly predicted the endorsement of therapeutic lifestyle changes and psychotherapies for depression. Study 2 (N = 193) sought to replicate associations between trait differences regarding implicit theories of depression and psychotherapy endorsement; it also manipulated state differences in incremental theories of depression (versus athleticism). Regression analyses showed that trait differences on incremental theories of depression predicted psychotherapy endorsement, as in Study 1. Participants exposed to arguments in favour of a malleable view of depression increased their incremental beliefs regarding depression, but did not endorse psychotherapies more than control participants. Therefore, individual differences regarding implicit theories of depression are predictive of the endorsement of psychotherapies for depression. Future research should attend to trait differences on implicit theories of depression as a potential predictor of amenability to interventions for depression.

Discipline: Psychology Honours

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew Howell