[Learned helplessness and depression in the aged. A study of the concept of Seligman's depression in the old age home]

Abstract

Seligman's concept of "learned helplessness" is examined with a sample of rest-home residents. A semi-structured interview is used to assess attributions in the dimensions of internality, stability and generality for past, present, and future life-events. Interrelations of these attributions with depression and age-related self-esteem are investigated. According to Seligman's model elderly subjects with high scores in depression and age-related self-esteem tend to attribute negative life-events as internal, stable and global. Some other assumptions of the model of "learned helplessness" could not be confirmed. Methodological problems are discussed with respect to Seligman's theory of learned helplessness and depression in the elderly.