An interactional approach to attributional dimensions in dysphoria

To investigate the possible contributions to dysphoria of interactions among attributional dimensions, 105 freshmen and sophomores were administered the Attributional Style Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. Analyses examined the relationship to dysphoria of (a) the traditional composite score; (b) multiple regression analyses including interactions among the various dimensions; and (c) indices of behavioral self-blame, characterological self-blame, and external blame. The results provided modest support for the specific hypothesised interactional model and, to a large extent, appeared to support the validity of the standard manner in which dysphoric attributional style is viewed. Refinements of the traditional model are suggested, involving the self-blame construct, the possible role of the stability dimension, and the relationship between controllability and positive event attributions.