Table 2.
Examples of Attributions and Coping Responses by Group
| Group/Negative event | Attributiona | Coping |
|---|---|---|
| Depressed | ||
| Acted bossyb | Cause I don’t stand up to him enough. (Internality = 6, Stability = 5, Globality = 5) | Pretend he isn’t thered or go in my roomc |
| People don’t like talking to youc | Cause I’m not as good as my sisters are. They are making lots of money and never get in trouble. (Internality = 7, Stability = 7, Globality = 7) | I get real mad and tell him off.e |
| Friends spent less time with youb | I don’t know. I think they don’t like what I do or the way I laugh. (Internality = 5, Stability = 6, Globality = 6) | I just be by myself and ignore them.d |
| Arguments with anyonec | I’m just always asking people questions and they get mad cause I’m a pest. (Internality = 6, Stability = 6, Globality = 6) | I don’t know what to do. I ask them why they angry,f but they don’t tell. |
| Not enough friendsc | Cause they don’t want to be my friend. No friends. Never. (Internality = 5, Stability = 7, Globality = 5) | Can’t do nothing. Never have no friends.e |
| Nondepressed | ||
| Get on well with your familyc | They just busy is all. (Internality = 2, Stability = 2, Globality = 2) | I call them and we talk on the phone.f When I’m lonely I call my [girlfriend] and we talk on the phone and we talk and she makes me feel better about it.f |
| Not enough friendsc | It’s because all my friends are other places and I can’t get there. (Internality = 3, Stability = 4, Globality = 3) | Write ’em letters and can call sometimesf |
| Not enough privacy/time to yourselfc | — [client] just wants attention so he comes to my room. (Internality = 2, Stability = 3, Globality = 1) | I tell him he can’t be in my room.f If he doesn’t leave, I tell staff and they make him go.f |
| When you are busy, people get in the way or interruptc | They don’t know no better. (Internality = 1, Stability = 6, Globality = 3) | Oh, I try to pretend they aren’t there.d Sometimes I tell — [boss] and she gets them to move.f |
| Went back on their wordb | They thought that I didn’t need a ride, but I really did need one. (Internality = 2, Stability = 1, Globality = 1) | We talked about it and got a plan. Now I’m going to get a ride on Mondays and Tuesdays.f |
a
Attribution ratings are based on a 7-point scale, with higher values meaning more Internal/Stable/Global ratings.
b
From the Inventory of Negative Social Interactions.
c
From the Lifestress Inventory.
d
Avoidant copy.
e
Noncoping.
f
Active coping.