The prediction of psychological distress from attributional style: A test of the hopelessness model of depression

This study investigated the relationship between attributional style Md subsequent psychological distress in a prospective design A group of young adults completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire. and then 1 year later completed a number of psychological measures; negative mood, self‐esteem, locus of control, depressive affect, hopelessness, and the General Health Questionnaire‐28. Attributional style was found to predict subsequent well‐being, but not when the effects of initial well‐being were controlled. Nor did the inclusion of negative life events improve the prediction. It was concluded that the results were inconsistent with the hopelessness model of depression.