Psychological processes mediating the link between depression severity and the level of behavioural activation: Assessment of a conceputal model

INTRODUCTION. Depression is a common psychopathology characterized by a decrease of the level of behavioural activation (BA) that is the level of engagement in activities. The relationship between depression and BA is well-established in the scientific literature. According to theoretical models of depression, psychopathology is also characterized by biases in five sets of psychological processes (PP): self-image (e.g. self-esteem), negative repetitive thoughts (e.g. ruminative thoughts), experiential avoidance (e.g. mindfulness), environmental satisfaction (e.g. environmental reward observation) and emotional regulation (e.g. distress tolerance). Therefore, the present study aims to identify PP mediating the relationship between depression and the level of BA. In order to reach this objective, a conceptual model is tested. METHOD. 361 adults (x ̅ age=36, σ=15), from clinical and non-clinical settings, fulfilled a series of questionnaires assessing several variables: sociodemographic data, depression, anxiety, level of BA and the above-cited five sets of PP. Covariance structure analysis will be conducted in order to test the conceptual model mentioned above. RESULTS. Some preliminary results are presented. As expected, a negative significant correlation between depression and BA (r=-.66, p<.01) have been highlighted. Negative significant correlation appeared between BA and the measured PP: self-esteem (r=-.27, p<.01), ruminative thinking (r=-.53, p<.01), environmental reward observation (=-.13, p<.05). Positive significant correlations appeared between BA and mindfulness (r=.49, p<.01) and distress tolerance (r=.26, p<.01). DISCUSSION. The preliminary results are in line with our hypotheses. Indeed, the level of BA is negatively linked to PP usually biased in depression such as self-esteem. The mediating role of these PP between depression and the level of BA will be discussed