Cognitive Distortions and Depression Among Adolescents
Cognitive Distortions and Depression Among Adolescents
Cognitive Distortions and Depression Among Adolescents
Abstract
The prime objective of present study was to assess the relationship between cognitive
distortions and depression among adolescents. The study also intends to assess gender
differences in cognitive distortions and depression. For this purpose,60 adolescents(30 males and
30 females)were recruited from college and university campus of Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi district. Age range of adolescents between 17-19 years. Cognitive distortion scale
(CDS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess the cognitive distortions and
depression. t-test and correlational analysis were usedfor data analysis. Results revealed a
significant positive relationship between cognitive distortions and depression. Results also
revealed gender differences in cognitive distortions and depression. It may concluded that
cognitive distortions and deression are postively correlated and influaced by gender.
Introduction
Cognitive distortions can be referred as irrational beliefs and thoughts processes that
affect the thinking patterns of individual, which leads to psychological distress like
depression.An individual with cognitive distortions perceives things, people, and experiences in
a distorted manner. This concept of cognitive distortion originated from Beck (1976)’s cognitive
theory of depression, which suggests that there is a relationship between cognitive distortion and
depression. Research with different population documented similar pattern of relationship
between depression and cognitive distortion (Harper & Ibrahim, 1999; Maxwell, Gatchel, &
Mayer, 1998).; Acharya, 2013). A study conduct by Teo and Say (2012) reported a strong
positive correlation between the severity of depression and the level of cognitive distortion.
Other studies have reported increased cognitive distortion with severity of depression
amongstudents’ in USA (Strunk & Adler, 2009) as well as juvenile delinquents in Malaysia
(Nasir, Zamani,Yusooff,&Khairudin, 2010). Singh, Yadav, Singh and Dhiman (2011) also
reported that dimensions of cognitive distortion contribute towards depression among
Indianadolescents.
Objectives
To assess the relationship between cognitive distortions and depression among
adolescents.
To assess the gender differences in cognitive distortions and depression among
adolescents.
Hypothesis
There would be positive correlation between cognitive distortions and depression.
There would be significant gender differences in cognitive distortions and
depression among adolescents.
Methodology
Participants:
Total 60 adolescents (30 males and 30 females) wererecruited from colleges and
university campus of BHU, Varanasi district in the age range of 14-18 years.
Tools:
Cognitive distortion scale (CDS)
This scale was developed by Sisodia and Sharma (2012), using Likert technique with a
view to measure cognitive distortion. The scale is in bilingual form (Hindi/English) and consists
of total 25 statements. For every statement, 5 marks to strongly agree, 4 marks to agree, 3 marks
to uncertain, 2 marks to disagree, and 1 mark to strongly disagree. The sum of marks is obtained
for the entire scale. The higher the score more is the cognitive distortion. The reliability of the
scale was determined by test-retest method and internal consistency method. The test-retest
reliability was 0.65 and internal consistency was 0.79 respectively. The scale has high content
validity. The scale was validated against the external criteria and coefficient obtained was 0.71.
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI):
Beck Depression Inventory(BDI; Beck et al., 1961) is a self-reported measure that
indicates behavioral manifestations and depth of depression both. It consists of twenty-one
clinically derived “Symptoms attitude category” judged to be the characteristics of depressive
patients. Each category represents a characteristic manifestation of depression. In BDI the
participant rates the presence of the aforesaid symptoms using a series of fore point ordinal scale
(ranging from 0 to 3). Individual category scores are summed to produce a total BDI score. In the
present study, a modified Hindi version of BDI (Gupta and Pandey, 2012) will be used. The
psychometric properties of the modified Hindi version of the BDI have found satisfactory. The
internal consistency of the Hindi version of BDI was fond to be highly satisfactory (Cronbach’s
alpha = 0.84).
Result
Table 1: Pearson correlation between cognitive distortions and depression
Cognitive Distortions
Depression 0.335**
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.
From the correlational table it is evident from the table that the calculated r value is
0.335, which is significant at 0.01 level. It is clear that cognitive distortions and depression are
positively correlated. Thus, the hypothesis that there would be positive correlation between
cognitive distortions and depression is accepted.
Table 2: Mean, SD, and t-ratio of Gender (male/female) on cognitive distortions and
depression scales
gender N Mean SD t-ratio
From the table, it is evident that on the scale of cognitive distortions and depression
calculated t values are 5.83 and 3.39 respectively, which is significant at0.01 level with df equal
to 58. It shows that male and female significantly differ in terms of cognitive distortions and
depression level. Female (Mean=72.33; Mean=15.50) have significantly high level of cognitive
distortions and depression than male (Mean=62.53; Mean=12.87). Thus, the hypothesis that there
would be found significant gender difference in cognitive distortions and depression among
adolescents is accepted.
Discussion
The objective of present study was to assess the relationship between cognitive
distortions and depression, further the study examines the gender differences between cognitive
distortions and depression among adolescents. It is quite obvious from the result that there is a
positive and significant correlation between cognitive distortions and depression among
adolescents. Finding of the study are collaborated from other studies (Beck, 1995;Nyarko, &
Amissah, 2014). The results ofthe present study supportthe presence of a positive relationship
between cognitive distortions and depression. As found in the study, the participants’ scores on
cognitive distortions scale positively and significantly correlated with their respective scores on
depression scale. This means that high level of cognitive distortions is predictive of high level of
depression. In a similar way, high level of depression may be predictive of high level of
cognitive distortions.
Furthermore, the study revealed the gender differencesin cognitive distortions and
depression among adolescents.That hasbeen supported by many others studies (eg.Nasir,
Zamani, Yusooff, &Khairudin, 2010). In other word we can say female have more cognitive
distorted and more depressed than male.While some studies reported no significant gender
differences (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001;Nyarko, &Amissah, 2014). Generally, in a college both
genders have equal opportunities for the participation in academic activities, as well as they have
equal way to improve their thought process or mind set. So that gender differences can be
reduced.However, it may posible that some other factors (i.e.-biological, emotional) may
contribute in the depression among females than male.
Conclusion:
Present study established that there is a positive relationship between cognitive
distortions and depression. It may be also concluded that cognitive distortions and depression are
influenced by gender, and females were found to have higher level of cognitive distortions as
well as depression than males.
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