Cognitive vulnerability to depression: an exploration of dysfunctional attitudes and ruminative response styles in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND

There has been little exploration of Beck's cognitive theory of depression and Nolen-Hoeksem's response styles theory within Arab populations.

OBJECTIVES

The study investigates the generalizability of these clinically influential models to Emirati citizens residing within United Arab Emirates (UAE).

METHOD: An opportunity sample of 450 undergraduate participants was assessed for dysfunctional attitudes using an Arabic/English 40-item version of Weissman and Beck's Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). Participants also completed Arabic/English versions of Nolen-Hoeksema's ruminative response styles (RRS) scale and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

RESULTS

Correlation and regression analyses showed depression to be associated with both RRS and dysfunctional attitudes.

CONCLUSION

The study supports the generalization of these clinically influential theories of depression within a UAE context.