Joiner et al (1999)

Joiner et al (1999) carried out a study on the effects of dysfunctional thinking patterns on the
development of depressive symptoms.
This study may be used to discuss a cognitive approach to the etiology of depression. It may
also be used to discuss research methods used in the study of etiology. In this case - a natural
experiment.
Background Information
Aaron Beck argues that dysfunctional patterns of thinking may lead to depression. Beck
noticed these patterns in his clients and several correlational studies link this type of thinking
to depression. However, correlational studies lead to the question of bidirectional ambiguity.
Do dysfunctional patterns of thinking lead to depression, or does depression lead to
dysfunctional patterns of thinking?
Beck posited that dysfunctional thinking is a vulnerability factor for depression. Joiner et al
postulated that dysfunctional thinking should be associated with the development of
depressive symptoms in the presence, but not the absence, of negative life events. In other
words, they argued that the cognitive approach to depression is based on the diathesis-stress
model – when one has negative thinking patterns and then is exposed to a life stressor, there
is a higher probability of developing depression. However, negative thinking alone does not
lead to depression.
To test this hypothesis, Joiner carried out a prospective study of the role of exam stress in
university students
Procedure and Results
Joiner et al wanted to determine the role of depressive and anxious thinking patterns on the
development of depressive symptoms. They hypothesized that negative thinking patterns, but
not anxious cognitions, would play a role in the onset of symptoms related to depression.
The sample was made of 119 American university students, all taking an abnormal
psychology course. The mean age of the students was 19 years old.
The stressor that the researchers would observe was mid-term examinations. The students
were assessed two weeks before and two weeks after their mid-term examinations. As the
administration of the exams was naturally occurring in the university setting, this study was
a natural experiment.
To assess the students, three tests were given.

1. The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale [DAS] This test measures thinking patterns
such as vulnerability, the need for approval, perfectionism, and the need to
impress. This was taken only before the mid-term exams.
2. The Cognitive Checklist [CCL]. Half of the questions determine automatic
thoughts linked to depression; the other half, are linked to anxiety. This test was
taken both before and after the exams.
 3. The Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] A standardized assessment to measure
levels of symptoms linked to depression. This test was also taken both before and
after the exams.
The researchers found an increase in the scores on the BDI only in students who had higher
scores on the DAS and who had failed an exam. Students who had a higher score on the
DAS but did well on the exams showed no significant increase in their BDI scores. For the
students who had lower scores on the DAS, even if they received low grades, they did not
experience depressive reactions.
When looking at the scores for the CCL, there was a correlation between having higher
scores on the depressive thinking patterns questions and the increase in the BDI scores if a
student failed an exam. There was no significant correlation between the anxiety scores and
an increase in BDI scores
Evaluation

The study was prospective, allowing the researchers to see change over time. This allows
researchers to control for bidirectional ambiguity.
The study was naturalistic, meaning that there was limited control over extraneous variables.
Although there was an increase in depressive symptoms, this is not the same as a clinical
diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. The experiment's results may not indicate what may
happen in clinical depression.
There was a sampling bias. The study was carried out on American undergraduates who
were studying psychology. The age, culture, and education of the sample may all have played
a role in the results of the study.

Notes:
- Joiner’s study supports the theory that negative thinking patterns lead to environmental stimuli. Patterns of
cognition alone are not enough to lead to depression, but they have also to be related to environmental stimuli.
That is Beck’s automatic thoughts. Negative said schema.