Leeftijd als Moderator in het Effect van Cognitieve Herstructurering en Probleemoplossing op de Depressieve Symptomen van Adolescenten in Geïndiceerde Depressiepreventie

Abstract

Subclinical depression is common among adolescents, with prevalence rates ranging from 5 to 29 percent. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has proven to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents. CBT consists of multiple components, with cognitive restructuring and problem solving calling upon cognitive abilities that are probably insufficiently developed in younger adolescents. The current study aimed to generate empirical knowledge regarding the effectiveness of cognitive restructuring and problem solving for younger adolescents (11-14 years) and older adolescents (14-19 years). Therefore, we investigated the moderating role of age group on the relative effectiveness of the CBT-components cognitive restructuring and problem solving (both operationalized into a module of three sessions) in indicated depression prevention for adolescents. In addition, a moderated-mediation analysis was conducted to explore whether the effects of the mediators negative cognitive errors and problem solving skills were moderated by age group. A randomized research design with four conditions was used. The sample consisted of 217 adolescents between 11 and 19 years (M=13.8) with elevated depressive symptoms. Results showed that the effectiveness of cognitive restructuring and problem solving on the depressive symptoms of adolescents was not moderated by age group. Also, the mediation effects of negative cognitive errors and problem solving skills did not differ for younger adolescents and older adolescents. Explanations of these results can be found in the limited duration of three sessions and the relatively small sample size. Future research that takes into account the cognitive abilities of adolescents is recommended.